The first popcorn match of the 2021 ATP Finals comes in the form of Zverev vs Berrettini from Turin, Italy. Both of these players have had spectacular years, making deep runs in major tournaments to earn their place in this battle of the top-eight remaining players in the ATP World Tour rankings. In our tennis betting picks, we look at this matchup from a betting perspective, as both players look to kick off their group stage campaign on a positive note.
Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini
Why Bet On Berrettini:
✅ Berrettini has taken at least one set off of Zverev in two of their four previous matches, including their most recent clash in Madrid earlier this year. The Italian has beaten Zverev once, and could come away with the win here. But, if nothing else, he has proven he can hang with the German and should cover the games line.
✅ This is the first year that the ATP Finals have moved to Italy after being hosted in London in prior campaigns. The crowd will be firmly on the side of the Italian in Berrettini in this match, even if Zverev is the favorite and the higher ranked player coming in. That partisan crowd will have an impact on this match, and it will be a positive one for Berrettini.
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
✅ The relatively fast court speed for an indoor event here should help Berrettini hide his backhand in this matchup. Without as much time to construct the point, Zverev won’t have quite as much time to target that side of Berrettini’s game, which will allow the Italian to hit more of his thunderous forehands.
Alexander Zverev
Sascha Zverev has had a strong finish to his season on tour, with his post-US Open play being very impressive. He has made deep runs at Indian Wells and Paris, in addition to winning a title in Vienna. This week, he will look to finish off the year in which he won multiple Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal with a tour finals triumph.
If Zverev is going to pick up a win against Berrettini in this match, his mental state will be just as important as his physical execution. There is no secret that the crowd in Turin is going to be raucous and in the corner of Berrettini. Zverev will need to block out all of the outside noise, and focus on playing the powerful yet precise tennis that has brought him the success he has attained in 2021.
Matteo Berrettini
Matteo Berrettini had a breakout season in 2021, and will look to close it out with a tour finals victory in front of a crowd that will be backing him above everyone else in Turin. Berrettini hasn’t played much tennis since the US Open, playing just six matches and winning four of those contests. But that could make him the fresher player coming into the final event of the 2021 ATP Tour schedule, which could work to his advantage.
The question for Berrettini against any elite player is whether he can avoid being pinned in his backhand corner for long enough to take charge of the match. Zverev is a huge hitter, just like Berrettini, and the player who can use their massive weapons to control the majority points will have a huge edge in this Zverev vs Berrettini match.