Zverev, Cilic Ready To Rumble On Opening Night

Quick to distance himself from the resurgent success Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have enjoyed this season, Alexander Zverev is content to be the chaser on debut at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, the leader of the baying pack behind the Top 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. At just 20 years old, the German is arguably the most hyped of the chasers in 2017.

On Sunday night, he will gain his first taste of competition under the lights of the O2 arena. His opponent, No.5 seed Marin Cilic, has been here twice before, although he will carry nerves of his own having claimed just one of his six matches at the season finale.

View FedEx ATP Head2Head matchup for the Group Boris Becker matches to be played Sunday at the Nitto ATP Finals and vote for who you think will win!
Federer vs. Sock | Zverev vs. Cilic

Of the two rangy 6’6″ frames, it is the German, with his ’70s-style mop of surfie locks, who possesses the better movement of the two. Both employ a similarly aggressive baseline game. While Cilic’s forehand has more pop than his younger opponent’s, it is Zverev’s flat, penetrating backhand which is his money shot. It is a weapon he attributes to his mother Irena’s tuition. 

Both utilise their height effectively on serve and on the O2 Arena’s slick surface, expect it to deliver plenty of free points for both. With the pair comfortable on the fast indoors, much will boil down to which of the two controls emotions better. For Zverev, still searching for a maiden quarter-final appearance in a major, the glare of expectation on such a big stage could spark a few nerves. 

Zverev has raised five trophies this season, including ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Montreal. Since claiming the Coupe Rogers in August, however, he has won just eight of his 15 matches – a lone semi-final showing from seven events through the Asian and European indoor swings. He will need to find something in reserve to lift for his final event of the season.

Despite a shaky start to the season Cilic crossed off another goal in October when he cracked the Top 4 for the first time. With his fluid serve and impressive net game ideally suited to the slicker surfaces, the Croat carried grass-court form to the All England Club, where he reached his first Wimbledon final. 

On his season-ending return to London, Cilic has reached semi-finals in Tokyo, Shanghai and Basel leading in. While he brings stronger indoor momentum to the clash, he has beaten Zverev just once in four FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters. 

If the German is looking for a psychological boost he may want to draw on an omen. Cilic has lost to the eventual champion in his opening round-robin match in his two prior Nitto ATP Finals appearances – to Djokovic in 2014 and to Murray last year.