Alexander Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Showdown
Preamble
The occupational hazards of group stage tennis often result in at this point of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left puzzled, searching around for a calculator and trying to work out the brain-busting permutations of qualification. But today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is simple. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the successful player secures a semi-final battle against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the loser goes home.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the third-ranked player is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this tournament previously on two instances and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, having won both their previous matches on an enclosed hard court.
Yet … this type of playing field on which Felix has secured most of his championships, he’s riding a high after his remarkable turnaround against Shelton on recently and he took out the German in the US Championships early stage in late summer. Plus, the court pace is quicker in the host city than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in the Canadian's benefit.
If Zverev holds back, similar to his performance against the Italian, and the Canadian presses the German with his stinging serves and fearless play, it could well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the one-time phenom who was previously positioned ahead of the younger champions to succeed the tennis icons – who earns the uncertain distinction of playing against the global leader the next day.
Action commences: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7:30 PM in the UK.
