The night-time Nitto ATP Finals semifinal will feature Green Group winner and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic battling Red Group runner-up and world No. 3 Alexander Zverev on Saturday. It’s a rematch of the 2018 final in London.
The third round of group-stage play is still underway in Turin, but one of the semifinals is already set. Novak Djokovic has secured top billing in the Green Group and Alexander Zverev is the runner-up from the Red Group.
This matchup has recently produced some compelling tennis–a boon for a tournament that has limped along with two injury withdrawals and more than a couple of blowouts already.
Zverev upset Djokovic in the semifinals of the Olympics this summer with his first win over top-ranked Serb on the heels of five consecutive losses. Djokovic got revenge at the U.S. Open semis, but Zverev still took him to five sets before surrendering 6-2 in the decider.
Djokovic has looked sharp at the year-end championship so far, but the speedy surface probably favors Zverev’s game a bit more. The German depends on a big first serve and explosive forehand, a benefit when points on this court have often been done and dusted in a few strokes. Still, Djokovic has been more dominant this week. Zverev lost his second robin-match against Daniil Medvedev in a nail-biter that was decided in a third-set tiebreaker, while Djokovic has cruised.
The 34-year-old still has a third round-robin contest on Friday against Cameron Norrie, but it’s a dead rubber (the outcome will not change the configuration of the semifinals at all). He looks fresh and nicely recovered from his U.S. Open final loss to Medvedev.
Cheryl pick: Djokovic in 3
Ricky pick: Djokovic in 3
WWW?
Goodnight Jack! lol Even got aced on match point.
Medvedev, Zverev and Sinner are the new big 3. Alcaraz will eventually join that group. Ruud had a great year.
Hurkacz and Norrie deserve a special mention as well. Cilic has done well to remain competitive. He couldve easily slid to 60-100.
LOL! I think your coronation of “the new big 3” is just a tad premature Let’s see what kind of staying power these guys have for starters.
The top 100-150 is full of players that were once top 50 and even top 20 players. I dont think we’ve ever seen that before.