Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev will be facing each other for the fourth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they battle for the Rogers Cup title on Sunday.
Federer is leading the head-to-head series 2-0, including 1-0 in ATP finals. They most recently faced each other in the Halle championship match a few months ago, when the veteran Swiss got the job done 6-1, 6-3. A pair of 2016 encounters were split, with Federer prevailing 6-3, 7-5 on the red clay of Rome before Zverev scored a 7-6(4), 5-7, 7-3 upset in Halle.
On the heels of up-and-down 2016 campaigns for both men, they have shot up the charts this season. In fact, this is a potential preview of a World Tour Finals showdown–and at this rate perhaps even the final match of 2017. Federer has a beat on the year-end No. 1 ranking with two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open and Wimbledon) already under his belt, while Zverev will be third in the race to London on Monday.
The 20-year-old German has looked strong the whole way in 2017 and he is especially fine form at the moment. He boasts a 45-13 record and has won nine in a row dating back to the beginning of his run to the Washington, D.C. winner’s trophy last week. Making a quick turnaround in Montreal, Zverev’s campaign at this Masters 1000 tournament almost never got off the ground. He faced a match point against Richard Gasquet in his opener, saved it with an amazing 49-ball rally, and eventually survived 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3). The world No. 8 has since made more routine work of Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Anderson, and Denis Shapovalov.
Speaking of match points, Federer has held them in all 37 of his matches this year. He is 35-2 with losses only to Evgeny Donskoy and Tommy Haas in a pair of respective thrillers (Dubai and Stuttgart). There has been no such competition to speak of dating back to Wimbledon. Federer rolled to the title there without dropping a single set and so far this week only David Ferrer has managed to snag one. The No. 2 seed recovered to win that contest in three, with additional victories over Peter Polansky, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Robin Haase to propel him into his sixth final of 2017.
“I think he’s definitely the favorite,” Zverev said of Federer. “He’s been playing amazing tennis. He pretty much won every single big tournament he played this year. I feel like I’m playing well. I know that I have to serve a lot better tomorrow than I did today. That was I think the thing that I struggled the most with today.
“I (have) played in five finals this year. I won four; the one that I lost was against Roger. There’s a reason for it.”
And there is a reason Federer should triumph once again. Zverev may finally be running on fumes and he is running into an opponent who will play aggressive, take the ball early, and put the youngster on the run. Just as Shapovalov’s amazing hot streak came to an end on Saturday, so too should Zverev’s in this one.
Pick: Federer in 2
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Roger will use his experience and the crowd to take the next set. But Zverev is playing well and I did predict we would have a good one on our hands. I highly doubt Roger will lose in straights because I think he will up his serving next set and hang in there as he has done so well this year.
First set to Zverev. Nice to see him coming out with confidence!
Great first set from Alex, lousy performance from Maestro! Let’s see if Alex can keep it up…
It is interesting how Federer just kinda stuggles in Canada finals. He lost in tight straight sets to Jo-Willy in 2014, and not many people saw that coming. Just to throw it out there, every time Federer has lost in the Canada final, he has won Cincinnati…
Roger annoyed with the ball bounce on that one. I think he looks even madder with that beard ??
Such impressive tennis from Zverev. Huge hitting
At least one of my favs is winning. Or I should say won. Muller over Harrison 6-4 5-7 7-6(3) in Cincinnati round one. Clutch play from Gilles as usual
Yay I got a pick right…that could be quite a rare event in my Cincy bracket.
Best point of the match so far! Great stuff from Zverev!
the tennis is heating up.
Mark that backhand pass. That could be a bigger miss than you’d think. Not that it was an easy shot but he almost made it lol
And that one point was ridiculous. Zverev is a beast. But Fed holds. Let’s go Roger
Jesus, Zverev just destroying Fed today…
Well, Fed is playing even faster than usual — like he wants outta there.
I will be very surprised if Fed turns it around now.
Sorry, Benny…
Something wrong with Rogers knee and/or back. Just look when he serves. He’s clearly under physical distress. Even the commentators commented on it
Doesn’t look like Zverev is going to lose his grip here. 4-3 now. I must say Fed has looked lacklustre this week. I mean, I haven’t seen the same spirit and fire he has been carrying this year.
Fed held serve to 4 easily that time and the test is now on Sascha to serve for it.
OMG Nny,
He’s got his 2nd Masters title! So happy for him 😀 I picked him to win Montreal too hahahahaha
Fed should skip Cincy — he’s not looking good.
rc,
Yes, congratulations to Sascha! You picked him! Good for you!
Something was wrong with Fed for sure. The ESPN commies picked up on it in the middle of the second set.
Fed seemed to be trying not to make whatever it is worse. Hope he’s okay.
Nny,
Yeah, I hope he’s okay too but will he do the right thing and skip Cincy?
Sascha is very impressive right now but I’m no sure about him in the 5 set format — I still think he is a ways from his first GS.
On one hand I can see Zverev losing early if he gets a tough draw because of what happened in French Open after winning in Rome. On the other hand, this is the best he’s played heading into a slam and probably the best he’s played ever at this point and the draw is obviously a lot more wide open this year for many reasons of course. I predict at least one unseeded quarterfinalist.
Eh we’ll see if he can break back but doubtful. Olly you were actually right lol!! I’m glad Roger fought hard enough to make the final this week but he clearly wasn’t playing that great all week. Can’t expect him to bring a super high level week in week out all season. Zverev totally deserves this match if he gets it though. Crazy to think Gasquet should’ve beaten him in round two!! But the injury comments are worrying me not gonna lie.
Come on Federer
Yeah Roger does look hampered by something. Might be wise to pull out of Cincy. And I know Rafans want that!! ?