Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Clash
Overview
The inherent challenges of round-robin tennis often result in by this stage of the season-ending championships viewers are commonly confused, hastily looking for a computing device and trying to work out the brain-busting permutations of qualification. But today's game between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is straightforward. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the victor secures a semi-final battle against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor is eliminated.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this event on two prior occasions and leads their head-to-head 6-3, winning both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships third round in August. Additionally, the court pace is quicker in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which is even more beneficial in AA’s favour.
Should Zverev be cautious, as he did against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the German with his effective service game and bold strategy, it could well be the North American athlete – the former prodigy who was earlier slated before Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the Big Three – who secures the questionable privilege of facing the top-ranked player the next day.
The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.
