With an undefeated Casper Ruud already qualified for the semifinals, and an 0-2 Rafael Nadal eliminated from semifinal contention, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz will play on Thursday to determine the other semifinalist from this group.
In doubles, all four teams in the Red Group have a chance of advancing to the semifinals, with the scenarios outlined below as per the ATP:
Each day, this preview will analyze the most intriguing matchup, while highlighting the other matches on the schedule. Thursday’s play begins at 11:30am local time.
Felix Auger-Aliassime (5) vs. Taylor Fritz (8) – Not Before 9:00pm
Each player has defeated Rafael Nadal, but lost to Casper Ruud, en route to this deciding round-robin matchup at the final ATP event of 2022. Their only previous meeting occurred at the first ATP event of 2022. In the final edition of the ATP Cup, which will be replaced this January by the new United Cup, Fritz overcame Auger-Aliassime in a tight three-setter after dropping the first set in a tiebreak.
Felix has been the ATP’s winningest player this fall, at one point claiming 16 consecutive matches, and three titles in as many weeks. Fritz started October by winning a hard court title in Tokyo, where he defeated Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe. But since that title run, he’s gone just 3-3.
Based on Felix’s recent form, he’s the favorite to prevail on Thursday. His slightly superior serving prowess, compared to that of Taylor’s, will be crucial on these fast-playing courts in Turin. And FAA will be feeling confident after securing his first career victory over Nadal in his last match.
Other Notable Matches on Thursday:
Rafael Nadal (1) vs. Casper Ruud (3) – This is a dead rubber, with only ranking points and prize money at stake. It’s a rematch from this year’s Roland Garros final, where Nadal crushed Ruud 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in Casper’s first championship match at a Major.
Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara (6) vs. Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos (7) – Glasspool and Heliovaara are vying to reach the semifinals in their ATP Finals debut. Granollers won this event 10 years ago alongside Marc Lopez, and has reached the semis in each of the last two years with Zeballos.
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury (2) vs. Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer (3) – Ram and Salisbury were finalists here a year ago. Rojer won this tournament in 2015 with Horia Tecau, while this is Arevalo’s ATP Finals debut.
Thursday’s full Order of Play is here.
