Alexander Zverev and John Isner will most likely be battling for a place in the semis of the Nitto ATP Finals when they contest the last round-robin match of the week on Friday afternoon.
Such will be the case if Novak Djokovic takes care of Marin Cilic later that night, but a Cilic upset would bring all kinds of permutations and combinations into the Group A mix.
Whatever the case, Isner knows he must win in straight sets to keep his semifinal hopes alive. Zverev, on the other hand, could advance by taking just one set even if he eventually loses the match. Beating the German in straight sets is something Isner has never done in five previous meetings. That being said, the 6’10” American’s biggest career title came at Zverev’s expense–a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 decision earlier this season in the Miami Masters final. Zverev, who is 4-1 in the overall head-to-head series and 2-0 on hard courts, avenged his lone setback with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Isner in the Madrid quarters.
Making his third London appearance at just 21 years old, Zverev got clobbered by Djokovic 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday but his semifinal chances are alive and well thanks to an opening 7-6(5), 7-6(1) defeat of Cilic. The world No. 5 is a solid 10-5 since the U.S. Open and has advanced to at least the quarterfinals of three consecutive tournaments.
“I haven’t felt my best in like two months, to be honest,” Zverev said while griping about the schedule and being told that Djokovic was feeling less than 100 percent during Wednesday’s match. “The issue is that our season is way too long; that’s the issue. But I’ve said it before. We play for 11 months a year. That’s ridiculous; no other professional sport does that.”
Isner is lucky to still be playing, as he was initially the second alternate for the year-end championship before getting in when both Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafael Nadal withdrew. The 33-year-old is also lucky to still be mathematically alive at the O2 Arena–which he is despite losing to Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 and to Cilic 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4.
“It’s very weird to think I’ve lost twice but still have a shot,” Isner noted. “I guess that’s the advantage of having a guy like Novak in your group. I have an objective, for sure. We’ll see if I can do it.”
Based on form, Isner is capable of doing it. Half of the field has not played a bad match yet in London and Isner is part of that quartet (also Djokovic, Cilic, and Kevin Anderson). Although a three-set win may be more likely, the world No. 10 could be able to seal the deal against a struggling Zverev in straights if his serve is at its best during the critical moments.
Pick: Isner in 2
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