Alexander Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Showdown
Introduction
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play mean by this stage of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left puzzled, hastily looking for a calculator and trying to work out the mind-boggling permutations of qualification. However tonight’s match between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is straightforward. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player sets up a semi-final contest against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the defeated player goes home.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this event previously on two instances and leads their head-to-head 6-3, securing victories in both their previous matches on an indoor hard court.
But … this is the surface on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the majority of his titles, he is full of confidence after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he took out Zverev in the US Championships third round in August. Plus, conditions are faster in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in AA’s favour.
Should Zverev be cautious, like he was against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the German with his effective service game and confident shots, it could well be the young Canadian – the earlier standout who was once in line ahead of the Spanish and Italian stars to succeed the tennis icons – who earns the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player tomorrow.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
