Alexander Zverev Takes On Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Showdown
Introduction
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play often result in by this stage of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left scratching our heads, searching around for a calculator and trying to work out the mind-boggling qualification scenarios. But today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is straightforward. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player secures a final four contest against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the elite athlete is the player with greater achievements, has been the champion at this competition twice before and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, winning both their previous matches on an indoor hard court.
But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Open third round in August. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in AA’s favor.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his powerful serves and fearless play, it might very well be the young Canadian – the one-time phenom who was previously positioned ahead of the younger champions to take over from the legendary trio – who obtains the questionable privilege of facing the global leader on Saturday.
The match starts: at about 8.30pm local time, 7.30pm GMT.
