Alexander Zverev at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London
Photo by WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock | Alexander Zverev at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London

Winner takes all as Alexander Zverev and Jack bid for a semi-final spot at the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals.

By Ros Satar

  • Alexander Zverev [3] v Jack Sock [8]
  • Roger Federer [2] v Marin Cilic [5]
LONDON, UK – With Roger Federer safely through to the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals, it is all to play for as Alexander Zverev faces Jack Sock.

 

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Alexander Zverev [3] v Jack Sock [8] | H2H: Tied at 1-1

It all comes down to this for Alexander Zverev and Jack Sock as they bid to seal their place in the semi-finals. With a head to head tied at one-each we are poised to see a decent battle to the finish.

Jack Sock, Nitto ATP Finals 2017, Day One
Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/REX/ Shutterstock | Jack Sock, Nitto ATP Finals 2017, Day One

Whereas Zverev was somewhat terse following his win over Marin Cilic in the opening round, he seemed a lot more chipper, despite losing a three-setter againstRoger Federer. There are still an awful lot of errors leaking from his racquet just now, and against a much improved Sock from his battle against the rangy Croatian, we ought to expect a great match.

While Sock seemed to have trouble dealing with his range and execution in his opener, he looked very much sharper in his second match and his execution at the net was miles improved.

While he can probably match Zverev in aggressive play from the baseline all the livelong day, his serve and volley play should see some deftness and precision from Zverev at the net also. He will be looking for plenty of free serves from the outset, but as we saw against Federer, if the rallies were edging on for none or more shots, you would have to favour the point going to the German.

Prediction: Zverev in three sets.

 

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Roger Federer [2] v Marin Cilic [5] | H2H: Federer leads 7-1

Roger Federer at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London
Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/REX/Shutterstock | Roger Federer at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London

Apart from that one glorious New York summer, where Marin Cilic beat all the odds to lift his first (and so far only) Slam title in New York, he has never really been able to keep up with Roger Federer in their head to head.

Marin Cilic at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London
Photo by Mark Greenwood/IPS/REX/Shutterstock | Marin Cilic at the 2017 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London

He has put up a few good battles along the way though, taking him to five sets in Wimbledon last year, but at the back of his mind will surely be the agony of his Wimbledon defeat, after blisters and a leg injury prevented him from really giving his all.

It has felt like Cilic has really been the nearly-man as he attempst to try and remedy an appalling record here. He has won just once at the World Tour Finals and twice has been a break up in a decider, only to struggle to have it all come together at the finish.

While Federer has had his own little dips of fortune in his two matches, it is exceedingly hard not to see him come away with a no-pressure won. Playing for points now to put him closer to Nadal by the time the season starts is all that is on the line for him now he has qualified, and we doubt he will want to be out on court any longer than he absolutely has to be.

Prediction: Federer in two sets.

Play begins on Day Five of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at 12pm, singles not before 2pm), with the evening session starting at 6pm, singles not before 8pm (all times GMT).

Main Image: Photo by WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock