Laver Cup 2024: Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev
Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024
Tournament: Laver Cup 2024
Venue: Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $2,250,000
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | India - Sony | UK - Eurosport | Canada - TSN | Australia - Stan Sport
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev preview
Team World's Frances Tiafoe will lock horns with Team Europe's Alexander Zverev in the second-last match of the 2024 Laver Cup, scheduled for Sunday, September 22.
Tiafoe holds a 29-20 match record for the year heading into Berlin. Despite a disappointing first half of the season that saw him reach just one final, in Houston, alongside numerous early defeats, he made a strong comeback during the North American hardcourt swing, reaching the finals in Cincinnati and the semifinals in New York.
Tiafoe began his Laver Cup campaign on day two against Daniil Medvedev. He lost the first set but rallied back in the second to force a match tiebreaker. Tiafoe excelled in the crucial points, playing aggressively to secure an impressive 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 victory.
Zverev, meanwhile, entered the Laver Cup with a 56-17 match record this year, along with the title from Rome. He reached the finals in Paris and Hamburg, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils, respectively. Also, he made it to the semifinals in Cincinnati ahead of the US Open. He then suffered a disappointing defeat to Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Zverev began his Laver Cup campaign on the first day in doubles action alongside Alcaraz. They lost to the American duo of Fritz and Ben Shelton in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-4. He played his first singles match at the tournament yesterday against Fritz, once again falling to his American counterpart, this time in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev head-to-head
Alexander Zverev leads Frances Tiafoe 7-1 in their head-to-head matchup, having won their previous encounter 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 7-6 (5) at the French Open last year. He also holds a 5-1 advantage in their hardcourt meetings and is 2-0 up on indoor hardcourt.
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Frances Tiafoe vs Alexander Zverev prediction
Frances Tiafoe has been on a roll since the start of the American hardcourt swing, compiling a 15-5 record since. He looks back to his dominating best and poised to finish the season on a high note. It was that grit and resilience that helped him navigate through his tight opener against Daniil Medvedev.
Zverev in stark contrast had a strong first half of the season and has then struggled to maintain consistency since Wimbledon. He has often faltered during crucial moments and has lacked the finishing touch to close out matches reliably. His tentative play has also led to an increase in unforced errors.
Both players are no strangers to Laver Cup competition, with Tiafoe holding a 3-3 record and Zverev boasting a 6-2 singles record.
While Zverev appears stronger on paper due to his superior form at the event and on indoor hardcourt, Tiafoe's recent performance could prove decisive in his quest for the win. A tight battle nonetheless can be expected between the pair with plenty at stake.
Pick: Alexander Zverev to win in three sets.