Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Nitto ATP Finals match.
Alexander Zverev got off to a strong start by defeating Andrey Rublev and continues to exhibit outstanding form on indoor courts. Ruud, having already caused an upset by beating Carlos Alcaraz, is in high spirits. Both players understand that a win here virtually guarantees a spot in the semifinals, so the tension in this upcoming clash will be palpable.
Alexander Zverev
Zverev comes into this tournament in exceptional form. The German has had one of the best seasons of his career, winning 67 matches and finishing the Paris Masters triumphantly last month. His serve and confidence in rallies have been the cornerstone of his success. This season, he has won 90% of his service games, ranking just behind Jannik Sinner in this metric. In the match against Rublev, he clinched 80% of points on both his first and second serves, not allowing a single break point. Additionally, statistics confirm Alexander's supremacy: he has won three of five head-to-head matches against Ruud, including a victory on indoor hard court in Paris, where he beat Casper 7:5, 6:4.
Casper Ruud
Ruud, despite being the underdog in the tournament, knows how to surprise at crucial stages. His recent victory over Alcaraz is further proof that in the Finals, Casper can find form and capitalise on his opponent's mistakes. Meanwhile, he often struggles against top-5 players, losing seven out of his last ten matches against them. Moreover, he has played no more than two sets in six of his last eight encounters with top-10 opponents.
Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud Prediction
Despite Ruud's surprising win over Alcaraz, it is Zverev who is displaying a higher level of tennis on indoor hard courts, consistently showing his strength. The German not only has a solid serve but also effectively exploits opponents' weaknesses on returns, as seen in his match against Rublev. Ruud currently boasts only strong motivation, which is insufficient to compete with Zverev's serve and precision in rallies. Therefore, the German should comfortably win the match 2:0.
