Zverev Battles Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Clash
Preamble
The inherent challenges of round-robin tennis mean by this stage of the ATP World Tour Finals viewers are commonly confused, searching around for a calculator and attempting to calculate the mind-boggling permutations of qualification. But this evening's contest between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the victor secures a final four matchup against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player is eliminated.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the third-ranked player is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this event twice before and leads their head-to-head six matches to three, having won both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won the bulk of his trophies, he’s riding a high after his impressive recovery against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he defeated the German in the US Open initial phase in late summer. Furthermore, conditions are faster in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in AA’s favor.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the German with his stinging serves and confident shots, it could well be the young Canadian – the one-time phenom who was once in line before Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the Big Three – who earns the uncertain distinction of playing against the global leader the next day.
The match starts: at approximately 8:30 PM in Turin, 7.30pm GMT.
