Zverev Battles Auger-Aliassime in Season-Ending Championships Clash
Preamble
The occupational hazards of tournament pool play typically lead to during this phase of the season-ending championships viewers are commonly confused, hastily looking for a computing device and striving to determine the complex potential outcomes for advancement. Yet today's game between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player secures a semi-final contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player goes home.
The German is the frontrunner for this: the third-ranked player is the more experienced competitor, has claimed the title at this competition twice before and is ahead in their direct encounters 6-3, securing victories in both their past encounters on an enclosed hard court.
However … this particular court on which Felix has secured most of his championships, he is in great form after his remarkable turnaround against Ben Shelton on midweek and he defeated Zverev in the US Championships initial phase in late summer. Additionally, the court pace is quicker in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which is even more beneficial in the Canadian's favor.
If Zverev holds back, as he did against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his powerful serves and fearless play, it could well be the young Canadian – the former prodigy who was once in line before the younger champions to replace the Big Three – who secures the questionable privilege of facing the top-ranked player the next day.
Play begins: at about 8.30pm local time, 7.30pm GMT.
