Five stats ahead of the Federer-Zverev match up

The Swiss maestro, Roger Federer, takes on the young German prodigy, Alexander Zverev in an enticing match tonight. We have a look at five factors that stand out in today’s match up.

5. The German is the youngest player in the top 50

Alexander Zverev, is currently just 20 years old, which makes him the youngest player in the top 50 of the singles rankings in the ATP list. He achieved this feat back in 2016, when he was just 19 years of age. The German was also the youngest player to win an ATP challenger trophy, since Bernard Tomic did it in 2009.

4. He could break Djokovic’s record

Alexander Zverev could become the youngest player to break into the top three of the ATP single rankings since 2007. A feat that Novak Djokovic had achieved way back in 2007, when he had qualified for his first ever year-end championships.

3. Federer and Zverev, both won their debut matches

Zverev is playing in his first ever year-end finals tournament. For Federer, however, the debut was 15 years back, in Shanghai. He was world no.6 then, and interestingly had his first match against Juan Carlos Ferrero, who is now coaching Zverev. Federer had won that match back then. Zverev opened up his tournament against the Croatian Marin Cilic, and got through in three sets.

2. The youngster holds a slight advantage in the head-to-head

The duo, have split the head-to-head two apiece, with Federer winning in Halle and Rome. Zverev meanwhile had victories over Federer in Halle and Canada. However, the duo also met during the Hopman cup between Germany and Switzerland. This battle went the German’s way, although the victory does not come into the head-to-head count, due to the fact, that they were playing for their respective countries.

1. Winner will proceed to the semis

Having won their opening round matches, the player who comes out on op tonight, has a secure berth in the semi-finals of the tournament. Federer came through in straight sets in his opener, against Jack Sock, while Zverev had to battle it out in three sets against Marin Cilic.