Casper Ruud will qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals semi-finals after winning the first set 6-4 against Andrey Rublev on Friday night in Turin, providing the match does not end in retirement or disqualification.
The Norwegian went 1-1 across his opening two round-robin matches and just needed to win a set against Rublev to reach the last four at the prestigious year-end event for the third time.
The 2022 finalist Ruud, who finished second in the John Newcombe Group behind Alexander Zverev, will face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Saturday night. Zverev takes on Taylor Fritz.
Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur and Rublev all fell in the round-robin stage.
[ATP AWARDS]