"Turin people spiked Carlos Alcaraz's water & pasta"; "Season is done" - Fans worried about Spaniard after discomfort in ATP Finals opener loss

Carlos Alcaraz appeared to be in discomfort during his 2024 ATP Finals opener against Casper Ruud on Monday, November 11. Fans were concerned about the Spaniard's health with many predicting an early end to his year-end championship campaign.

Alcaraz and Ruud opened the ATP Finals campaign for the John Newcombe Group with a surprising result. The World No. 3 was a favorite owing to his 4-0 head-to-head record ahead of the match but the Norwegian's aggressive approach proved too much to handle for the Spaniard.

Alcaraz managed to win only one game in the first set with Ruud winning five games in a row after the score was tied at 1-1. In the second set, the 21-year-old earned the first break of the set to gain a 4-2 lead. He followed it up by winning his service game but the World No. 7 pulled off another string of 5 consecutive game wins to register a 6-1, 7-5 win.

However, throughout the match, Alcaraz appeared to struggle with discomfort, frequently clutching his stomach. Ahead of the match, he was seen training with an unusual nasal device to aid his breathing, but despite this, Alcaraz appeared to experience further breathing difficulties on the court.

He was spotted using vapor rub, repeatedly blowing his nose, and holding his stomach, suggesting that he may have been dealing with respiratory or digestive issues during the contest.

A video of Alcaraz facing discomfort was uploaded on X and fans expressed concern for the Spaniard.

"I am so worried about him 😭😭😭" one fan wrote.

"Season is done 😭" another fan wrote.

Some fans joked that people in Turin caused Alcaraz's infection.

"They infected him to ensure the 💉🥕 wins. Not the first for the coven," one fan wrote.

"The Turino people spiked his water and pasta 😢💔😢💔😢💔" another fan wrote.

Here are some more fan reactions:

"How is he this sick ? This is ridiculous. Fire the squad," one fan wrote.

"In case you don’t know. This doesn’t look like nothing to me. If thing got worse in the coming days I’m not surprised if he withdraws," yet another fan wrote.

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"It can be a bit tricky" - Casper Ruud opens up about the challenge of facing an unwell opponent after his ATP Finals win over an ill Carlos Alcaraz

Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024 (Image via Getty)

After picking up a straight sets win over an ill Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Finals, Casper Ruud commented on the challenge of facing an opponent who might be under the weather, saying (via ATP Tour):

"It can be a bit tricky... I knew he was dealing with a bit of a cold. I saw him sniffling in the back area and with a tissue for his nose, so that’s a sign that maybe physically he won’t be necessarily at 100 per cent."

Ruud described the unique challenge of playing against a slightly unwell opponent, noting that it can add pressure when you sense it might be "a big chance" to win. Despite seeing Alcaraz struggling, Ruud focused on staying in his own rhythm.

After his match, Carlos Alcaraz admitted he had fallen ill before traveling to Turin, and that he began experiencing stomach discomfort on the morning of the match. This illness seemed to impact his performance, contributing to his struggles on the court.