Alexander Zverev Takes On Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Showdown
Overview
The occupational hazards of round-robin tennis often result in during this phase of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly scratching our heads, hastily looking for a calculator and attempting to calculate the brain-busting qualification scenarios. But tonight’s match between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is simple. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the successful player sets up a semifinal battle against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player heads out.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the elite athlete is the more accomplished player, has claimed the title at this tournament previously on two instances and is ahead in their direct encounters six matches to three, winning both their previous matches on an covered hard surface.
Yet … this type of playing field on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he’s riding a high after his impressive recovery against Shelton on recently and he took out the German in the US Open third round in August. Furthermore, the court pace is quicker in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which is even more beneficial in Auger-Aliassime's favour.
If the German player is reserved, like he was against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his effective service game and confident shots, it might very well be the North American athlete – the one-time phenom who was once in line before the younger champions to succeed the Big Three – who secures the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player the next day.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7:30 PM in the UK.
