Third seed Alexander Zverev and 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime are set to renew their rivalry at the US Open in what promises to be a gripping third-round clash. This meeting marks their ninth career encounter and their second face-off at a Grand Slam, adding extra weight to an already competitive matchup.
Zverev’s Steady March in New York
Zverev has made a commanding start to his US Open campaign, brushing past Alejandro Tabilo and Jacob Fearnley without dropping a set. The German’s consistency at Flushing Meadows is notable—he hasn’t failed to reach at least the quarterfinal stage since 2020, when he finished runner-up.
Currently ranked world No. 3, Zverev brings an imposing 45-16 season record, with 21 wins in 27 matches on hard courts, highlighting his strength on the surface. His 6-2 career head-to-head lead against Auger-Aliassime also gives him confidence heading into this contest.
Auger-Aliassime’s Rising Confidence
While Zverev has historically had the upper hand, Auger-Aliassime has proven he can trouble the German. After losing their first five encounters, the Canadian has won two of the last four, suggesting the rivalry has evened out.
The former US Open semifinalist has been in fine form this week, overcoming Billy Harris and Roman Safiullin in straight sets. With 31 wins this season and recent titles in Adelaide and Montpellier, the 24-year-old has climbed to 22nd in the live rankings and looks increasingly confident.
Key Match Factors
- Their only previous Grand Slam meeting went the distance, lasting five sets.
- Zverev has amassed 223 career hard-court victories, compared to Auger-Aliassime’s 120-plus wins on the same surface.
- Both players are hard-court specialists, making this a stylistic clash built for long rallies and momentum swings.
- Zverev’s serve-and-volley control contrasts with Auger-Aliassime’s explosive shot-making, setting the stage for fine margins to decide the outcome.
Prediction and Betting Insight
Bookmakers slightly favor Zverev:
- Zverev: 67.87% chance to win (odds 1.32 – 22bet)
- Auger-Aliassime: 32.13% chance to win (odds 3.75 – Bet365)
Given their history and current form, the expectation is for a drawn-out battle. Both players are evenly matched in recent head-to-heads, and with their ability to adapt and push matches deep, a straight-set finish looks unlikely.
Prediction: The match to have over 3.5 sets.