Alexander Zverev Takes On Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Clash
Preamble
The inherent challenges of tournament pool play often result in by this stage of the season-ending championships viewers are commonly confused, hastily looking for a calculator and attempting to calculate the mind-boggling permutations of qualification. But tonight’s match between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player sets up a semifinal matchup against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the loser heads out.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the world No 3 is the more accomplished player, has been the champion at this competition twice before and leads their head-to-head 6-3, having won both their past encounters on an covered hard surface.
However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the bulk of his trophies, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships early stage in late summer. Additionally, conditions are faster in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's favour.
If Zverev holds back, similar to his performance against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the German with his effective service game and bold strategy, there is a strong chance the young Canadian – the former prodigy who was once in line in front of the Spanish and Italian stars to take over from the Big Three – who secures the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player on Saturday.
The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7:30 PM in the UK.