Alexander Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Showdown
Overview
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play typically lead to at this point of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly confused, scrambling about for a mathematical tool and attempting to calculate the brain-busting qualification scenarios. Yet today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is straightforward. It's a direct elimination: the successful player secures a semi-final matchup against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player is eliminated.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has previously won at this event twice before and is ahead in their direct encounters 6-3, winning both their previous matches on an enclosed hard court.
However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the bulk of his trophies, he’s riding a high after his impressive recovery against Shelton on recently and he eliminated the German in the US Championships initial phase in late summer. Plus, conditions are faster in Turin than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in the Canadian's benefit.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his powerful serves and fearless play, there is a strong chance the young Canadian – the earlier standout who was earlier slated before the younger champions to take over from the tennis icons – who obtains the questionable privilege of facing the world No 1 on Saturday.
Play begins: at about 8.30pm local time, 7.30pm GMT.
