Zverev Battles Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Match
Overview
The inherent challenges of tournament pool play typically lead to at this point of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly scratching our heads, scrambling about for a calculator and trying to work out the complex potential outcomes for advancement. But tonight’s match between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player sets up a semifinal battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the loser goes home.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the elite athlete is the more accomplished player, has claimed the title at this competition twice before and is ahead in their direct encounters with six victories against three defeats, having won both their previous matches on an enclosed hard court.
However … this particular court on which the Canadian has won the bulk of his trophies, he’s riding a high after his compelling comeback against Shelton on midweek and he defeated Zverev in the US Championships early stage in August. Furthermore, conditions are faster in Turin than at the US Open venue, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.
If the German player is reserved, similar to his performance against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the German with his powerful serves and confident shots, it could 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 secures the uncertain distinction of competing with the world No 1 the next day.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.
