Alexander Zverev Faces Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Match
Introduction
The occupational hazards of round-robin tennis often result in during this phase of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves scratching our heads, scrambling about for a computing device and trying to work out the brain-busting permutations of qualification. Yet this evening's contest between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is simple. It’s a straight shootout: the victor earns a semifinal battle against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the third-ranked player is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this competition twice before and leads their head-to-head 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 the majority of his titles, he’s riding a high after his compelling comeback against Shelton on Wednesday and he took out the German in the US Open early stage in late summer. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.
Should Zverev be cautious, like he was against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his powerful serves and confident shots, it might very well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the earlier standout who was earlier slated ahead of the younger champions to replace the Big Three – who earns the dubious honour of playing against the world No 1 on Saturday.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.
