Rafael Nadal out of ATP Masters, Carlos Alcaraz stays No 1

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns to USA’s Taylor Fritz during their first round-robin match at the ATP Finals tennis tournament on November 13, 2022 in Turin. (AFP)

• Nadal had lost two matches at the Turin finals

TURIN, Italy: Rafael Nadal was eliminated at the group stage of the ATP Finals in Turin on Tuesday, with Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz now assured of ending 2022 as world number one.
Nadal had lost two matches at the Turin finals and to stay alive needed Taylor Fritz to beat Casper Ruud in straight sets.
But when Casper Rudd won a set against Fritz, it meant Alcaraz would finish the year as the top ranked male player — Nadal needed to win the year-end title for the first time in his trophy-laden career to have a chance of preventing Alcaraz from finishing No 1.