Zverev Takes On Felix Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Clash
Preamble
The typical complications of tournament pool play mean by this stage of the season-ending championships fans frequently find themselves scratching our heads, scrambling about for a mathematical tool and trying to work out the complex permutations of qualification. But tonight’s match between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is simple. It's a direct elimination: the winner earns a semifinal contest against Carlos Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.
Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this tournament previously on two instances and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, having won both their past encounters on an covered hard surface.
Yet … this type of playing field on which Felix has secured the majority of his titles, he’s riding a high after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on midweek and he eliminated the German in the US Championships early stage in late summer. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at the US Open venue, which provides an additional advantage in Auger-Aliassime's favour.
If Zverev holds back, similar to his performance against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his stinging serves and confident shots, it could well be the young Canadian – the one-time phenom who was once in line before Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the legendary trio – who secures the dubious honour of playing against the world No 1 tomorrow.
The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.
