Alexander Zverev Takes On Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Showdown
Overview
The typical complications of round-robin tennis mean by this stage of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly scratching our heads, searching around for a calculator and trying to work out the mind-boggling qualification scenarios. However this evening's contest between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is straightforward. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the successful player earns a semi-final battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor is eliminated.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the third-ranked player is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this competition previously on two instances and is ahead in their direct encounters six matches to three, winning both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he is in great form after his impressive recovery against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he eliminated the German in the US Championships initial phase in late summer. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his powerful serves and confident shots, it could well be the young Canadian – the former prodigy who was earlier slated before the younger champions to take over from the Big Three – who secures the uncertain distinction of playing against the top-ranked player the next day.
Action commences: at about 8.30pm local time, 7:30 PM in the UK.
