Zverev Takes On Felix Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Showdown
Introduction
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play often result in by this stage of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left scratching our heads, searching around for a computing device and attempting to calculate the complex qualification scenarios. Yet this evening's contest between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is easy. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the winner secures a semi-final matchup against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor goes home.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this event on two prior occasions and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, having won both their previous matches on an indoor hard court.
However … this particular court on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he is in great form after his remarkable turnaround against Shelton on midweek and he defeated Zverev in the US Championships initial phase in August. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which is even more beneficial in AA’s benefit.
If Zverev holds back, similar to his performance against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the European player with his effective service game and confident shots, it might very well be the North American athlete – the one-time phenom who was once in line ahead of Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the tennis icons – who obtains the questionable privilege of facing the top-ranked player on Saturday.
Play begins: at about 8.30pm local time, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.
