Zverev Battles Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Clash
Overview
The typical complications of round-robin tennis often result in during this phase of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves confused, searching around for a computing device and striving to determine the complex permutations of qualification. But today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is easy. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the winner secures a semi-final battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the defeated player goes home.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this competition previously on two instances and leads their head-to-head six matches to three, winning both their past encounters on an enclosed hard court.
Yet … this type of playing field on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the bulk of his trophies, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he took out the German in the US Championships third round in late summer. Plus, conditions are faster in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.
If the German player is reserved, as he did against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his stinging serves and bold strategy, there is a strong chance the 25-year-old Canadian – the one-time phenom who was previously positioned in front of the younger champions to take over from the tennis icons – who secures the dubious honour of facing the world No 1 on Saturday.
Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
