Zverev Faces Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Showdown
Overview
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play mean at this point of the season-ending championships we’re often left confused, hastily looking for a calculator and trying to work out the complex potential outcomes for advancement. But tonight’s match between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is simple. It's a direct elimination: the successful player earns a semifinal battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the loser goes home.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the world No 3 is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this competition on two prior occasions and is ahead in their direct encounters 6-3, having won both their past encounters on an covered hard surface.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he is full of confidence after his remarkable turnaround against Shelton on recently and he defeated the German in the US Open third round in late summer. Furthermore, the court pace is quicker in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in the Canadian's favour.
If Zverev holds back, as he did against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the German with his powerful serves and fearless play, it might very well be the young Canadian – the earlier standout who was earlier slated before the Spanish and Italian stars to take over from the Big Three – who earns the uncertain distinction of competing with the world No 1 tomorrow.
Action commences: at about 8.30pm local time, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.
