Alexander Zverev Battles Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP World Tour Finals Match
Preamble
The typical complications of tournament pool play often result in at this point of the season-ending championships we’re often left confused, hastily looking for a mathematical tool and trying to work out the brain-busting qualification scenarios. But tonight’s match between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is straightforward. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the successful player earns a final four contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player goes home.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this competition on two prior occasions and holds the advantage in their personal record with six victories against three defeats, securing victories in both the games they've played on an enclosed hard court.
However … this particular court on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he is in great form after his impressive recovery against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he took out Zverev in the US Open early stage in August. Additionally, the court pace is quicker in the host city than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in Auger-Aliassime's favor.
Should Zverev be cautious, as he did against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the German with his powerful serves and fearless play, there is a strong chance the North American athlete – the one-time phenom who was previously positioned ahead of the Spanish and Italian stars to replace the Big Three – who obtains the questionable privilege of competing with the world No 1 on Saturday.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
