Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz will kick off the final day of round-robin competition in Group B at the Nitto ATP Finals, with both players still in semifinal contention.
The scenarios are not complicated at all–as they sometimes can be at the year-end championship. If Zverev wins on Thursday, he qualifies for the semis as the runner-up in Group B and will go up against Group A winner Novak Djokovic. Hurkacz must beat Zverev and then also get a loss by Jannik Sinner to Daniil Medvedev in Thursday’s nightcap. Medvedev has already clinched the top spot in Group B.
Hurkacz is still alive despite being 0-2. Making his debut at this prestigious eight-man event, the ninth-ranked Pole opened with a respectable performance during a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 loss to Medvedev. However, Hurkacz was completely out of sorts two days later and that resulted in a 6-2, 6-2 blowout at the hands of Sinner–who replaced fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Berrettini’s abdominal injury cropped up on Sunday against Zverev, who was leading 7-6(7), 1-0 at the time. The German also played well on Tuesday, battling Medvedev in the best match of the tournament to date before succumbing 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(6).
In addition to his form so far this week, Zverev also has the edge in terms of Nitto ATP Finals experience and the head-to-head history with Hurkacz. The world No. 3 has reached the YEC semis twice in four previous appearances and he lifted the trophy in 2018. He won his only previous matchup with Hurkacz 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the 2019 Madrid Masters.
Count on Zverev rolling into another semifinal berth for a rematch of the 2018 final against Djokovic.
Pick: Zverev in 2
WWW?
Watched Sinner thump HH so I guess AZ will too in two.
It’s a huge money making exercise but lordy lordy some of these matches have been dull, and this was one of them.
I thought this when the event was in London and I had the misfortune to spend a fortune watching many, many dull matches.