Zverev Battles Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Clash
Overview
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play mean during this phase of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly scratching our heads, searching around for a calculator and attempting to calculate the complex permutations of qualification. However tonight’s match between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the successful player secures a final four contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the third-ranked player is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this tournament twice before and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, having won both the games they've played on an enclosed hard court.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he eliminated Zverev in the US Championships early stage in late summer. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which is even more beneficial in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the European player with his effective service game and bold strategy, there is a strong chance the 25-year-old Canadian – the former prodigy who was earlier slated ahead of the Spanish and Italian stars to succeed the legendary trio – who earns the questionable privilege of playing against the world No 1 on Saturday.
Action commences: at about 8.30pm local time, 7:30 PM in the UK.