ATP Finals 2024: Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (3) Carlos Alcaraz vs (2) Alexander Zverev
Date: November 15, 2024
Tournament: ATP Finals 2024
Round: Group Stage
Venue: Inalpi Arena, Turin, Italy
Category: Year-end Championships
Surface: Hardcourt (Indoor)
Prize Money: $15,250,000
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev preview
Third seed Carlos Alcaraz will face off against second seed Alexander Zverev in the ATP Finals on Friday, November 15. This will be their final round-robin match as both players eye a spot in the semifinals.
Alcaraz entered the year-end tournament after a disappointing run at the Paris Masters, where he suffered a third-round exit at the hands of eventual runner-up Ugo Humbert. The Spaniard had a poor start in Turin, as he lost his tournament opener 1-6, 5-7 to sixth seed Casper Ruud.
Alcaraz avoided an early exit by bouncing back in the next match against eighth seed Andrey Rublev. He defeated the Russian 6-3, 7-6(8) to open his account in the John Newcombe Group.
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev has carried momentum from the title-winning campaign at the Paris Masters to Turin. The German eased past Rublev, 6-4, 6-4 in the opener. Zverev broke in game seven and held his serve to close out the first set. He then wrapped up the encounter in the second set, this time breaking in the ninth game.
Zverev then faced Ruud in the second group-stage match. He was strongly tested in the opening set but held his nerves to win the tie-break. The German claimed a crucial break in the second set to wrap up the encounter, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev head-to-head
Alcaraz and Zverev have met on 10 occasions so far. The spoils are shared with each winning five of them. Their last encounter saw the Spaniard beat Zverev, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to win the 2024 French Open title.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev odds
(Odds are sourced from BETMGM. The remaining odds will be updated once available)
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev prediction
Alcaraz's concerns on indoor hardcourts would have cleared off to some extent with his straight-sets win over Andrey Rublev. Despite suffering from respiratory issues, the Spaniard looked sharp and confident on the court.
However, Alcaraz has a more serious challenge when he faces Zverev. The German has been in scintillating form, remaining unbeaten in his last seven matches on indoor hard courts. He also dropped just a single set in this stretch.
Although the head-to-head is evenly matched, Alcaraz is yet to win against Zverev on indoor hardcourts. The Spaniard will go all in on Friday to bolster his chances of reaching the semifinals. However, Zverev is likely to edge out, given his current form and dominance on indoor hardcourts.
Pick: Zverev to win in three sets.