The opening night of the 2025 Nitto ATP Finals will feature a round-robin showdown between Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton in Group Bjorn Borg.
It’s not a very favorable draw for either of them, as they are in the same group as Jannik Sinner, but Zverev will be happy that he ended up in Shelton’s quartet instead of Taylor Fritz. The 28-year-old German is 0-6 in his last six games against Fritz (5-9 overall); he is a perfect 4-0 against Shelton. Zverev survived a 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 thriller at the 2024 Cincinnati Masters, but he has played all three meetings in straight sets this season: 6-2, 6-4 in the Munich final, 7-6(8), 7-6(1) in the Stuttgart semi-final and 6-2, 6-2 in Cincinnati. The world number 3 can complete a victory over Shelton by triumphing on an indoor hard court in Turin.
It should happen too. There is nothing about Shelton’s current form that suggests he will turn the tide against his nemesis. The sixth-seeded American suffered a shoulder injury at the US Open and has therefore played only three fall-swing tournaments. He compiled a combined match record of 3-3 in those three starts.
Zverev, on the other hand, is doing well, at least against everyone except Sinner. He finished second in Vienna and advanced to the semi-finals of the Paris Masters, losing to the Italian on both occasions.
In addition, Zverev is a seven-time participant in the year-end championship and a two-time champion (one in London, one in Turin). Shelton, on the other hand, is making his Nitto ATP Finals debut. Zverev seems to have every advantage in Sunday’s match.
Choice: Zverev and 2
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