Alexander Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Match
Preamble
The inherent challenges of tournament pool play mean at this point of the season-ending championships viewers are commonly puzzled, searching around for a calculator and attempting to calculate the brain-busting potential outcomes for advancement. But tonight’s match between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is easy. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the winner earns a semi-final battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the defeated player goes home.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the world No 3 is the player with greater achievements, has been the champion at this event previously on two instances and holds the advantage in their personal record with six victories against three defeats, winning both their past encounters on an enclosed hard court.
Yet … this type of playing field on which Felix has secured the majority of his titles, he is in great form after his impressive recovery against Ben Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships initial phase in August. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at the US Open venue, which works even more in the Canadian's favor.
If the German player is reserved, like he was against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his effective service game and confident shots, it could well be the young Canadian – the former prodigy who was previously positioned in front of Alcaraz and Sinner to replace the Big Three – who obtains the uncertain distinction of competing with the world No 1 on Saturday.
The match starts: at about 8.30pm local time, 7:30 PM in the UK.
