Germany and Canada will be trying to keep their ATP Cup hopes alive when they wrap up round-robin action on Thursday. Alexander Zverev and Jan-Lennard Struff are playing for the Germans, while Canada is going with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov.
Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
Zverev is up to No. 4 in the world and it feels like 2022 will be the year he gets his hands on a first Grand Slam winner’s trophy. It wouldn’t be surprising if it comes as early as the Australian Open, and so far Zverev’s preparation is off to a strong start. The German is 2-0 at the ATP Cup with straight-set victories over Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz of the United States.
Up next for Zverev is a showdown against Auger-Aliassime in Thursday’s Germany-Canada tie. Zverev leads the head-to-head series 4-1 after they split a pair of 2021 encounters; Auger-Aliassime pulled off a five-set upset at Wimbledon before falling in three sets in Vienna. The world No. 11 is 1-1 this week with a 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4 loss to Fritz followed by a 7-6(4), 6-3 defeat of Norrie. Based on current form and head-to-head history, you have to think Zverev will comfortably have the upper hand.
Pick: Zverev in 2
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs. Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
Shapovalov and Struff will be squaring off for the eighth time of their careers on Thursday. The head-to-head series stands at a surprising 5-2 in favor of Struff, who has won five of their last six meetings after prevailing 6-4, 6-3 at the St. Petersburg event this past fall.
It doesn’t seem like Shapovalov is in a good position to turn the tide. The 14th-ranked Canadian caught a Covid-19 case after the recent Abu Dhabi exhibition, withdrew from his first ATP Cup match, and then lost to Dan Evans 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday. Struff, who is coming off a third-set tiebreaker win over John Isner, should be able to take advantage of a vulnerable opponent.
Pick: Struff in 3
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