Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP World Tour Finals Clash
Preamble
The occupational hazards of group stage tennis typically lead to at this point of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left scratching our heads, hastily looking for a calculator and striving to determine the complex qualification scenarios. Yet today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the successful player sets up a final four contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor goes home.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the elite athlete is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this event on two prior occasions and leads their head-to-head with six victories against three defeats, having won both their past encounters on an enclosed hard court.
However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the majority of his titles, he’s riding a high after his impressive recovery against Shelton on recently and he defeated Zverev in the US Open third round in August. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in AA’s benefit.
If the German player is reserved, like he was against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the European player with his effective service game and bold strategy, it might very well be the young Canadian – the earlier standout who was once in line in front of the younger champions to replace the legendary trio – who earns the questionable privilege of playing against the world No 1 on Saturday.
The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
