Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will give up in their career for the 12th time when they fight for a place in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday evening.
Zverev leads the head-to-head series 6-5 after the most recently prevailing 7-6 (5), 6-4 at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024. They have split their four previous open-air competitions with two wins each. Their most memorable matchup came in last year’s Roland Garros title match, with Alcaraz Triumphing 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Zverev earned his place in the Semis Cincinnati by beating Karen Khahanov in the fourth round (7-5, 3-0, retired) and Ben Shelton in the quarters (6-2, 6-2). Both opponents played in the final of Toronto, where Shelton Khahanov surpassed in a third set of Tiebreker. Neither man had a lot left in the tank to stand to Zverev, but the story will probably be different when the third German Alcaraz walks in.
The second rank Spaniard needed two hours and 17 minutes to pass Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 on Friday afternoon, but fatigue should not be a factor. Alcaraz skipped Toronto, so this is his first appearance since Wimbledon. Although the five-fold Grand SLAM champion struggled against Rublev, he started that result by making relatively routine work from Damir Dzumhur, Hamad Medjedovic and Luca Nardi.
If someone is less than 100 percent on Saturday, this can be Zverev. Despite sailing along Shelton, the 28-year-old had clearly to do with some possible heat-related problems. And even if the underdog feels good about 24 hours later, it still faces a tough fight with Alcaraz on the other side of the net.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
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