Zverev Faces Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Match
Overview
The occupational hazards of round-robin tennis often result in by this stage of the ATP World Tour Finals viewers are commonly puzzled, scrambling about for a calculator and trying to work out the complex permutations of qualification. But today's game between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is straightforward. It’s a straight shootout: the victor secures a semi-final contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player heads out.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the world No 3 is the more accomplished player, has been the champion at this event twice before and leads their head-to-head six matches to three, securing victories in both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.
Yet … this type of playing field on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the majority of his titles, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships third round in August. Furthermore, conditions are faster in the host city than at the US Open venue, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's favour.
If Zverev holds back, like he was against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the German with his stinging serves and confident shots, there is a strong chance the North American athlete – the former prodigy who was previously positioned in front of the younger champions to succeed the tennis icons – who secures the questionable privilege of playing against the world No 1 the next day.
Play begins: at approximately 8:30 PM in Turin, 7:30 PM in the UK.
