Zverev Faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals Clash
Preamble
The inherent challenges of group stage tennis mean at this point of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly scratching our heads, hastily looking for a calculator and striving to determine the mind-boggling potential outcomes for advancement. Yet today's game between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is straightforward. It's a direct elimination: the winner secures a semifinal battle against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the defeated player heads out.
Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the third-ranked player is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this event on two prior occasions and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, winning both the games they've played on an covered hard surface.
However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed most of his championships, he’s riding a high after his remarkable turnaround against Ben Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Open early stage in August. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at the US Open venue, which provides an additional advantage in the Canadian'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 effective service game and fearless play, it might very well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the former prodigy who was once in line before the younger champions to replace the legendary trio – who earns the uncertain distinction of playing against the top-ranked player on Saturday.
The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
