Alexander Zverev begins the 2026 ATP Finals against Rafael Jodar on Sunday morning in Turin, and the opening match already carries a clear theme: the world No. 1 knows this is a very different test from the one he won in June.
That Roland Garros quarterfinal is the obvious reference point. Zverev beat Jodar 7-6, 6-1, 6-3 after recovering from 2-5 down in the first set, and it remains the only meeting between the pair. For Jodar, though, this is also the sort of stage that can quickly turn a promising season into something bigger.
Zverev has the edge, but the first match still matters
The numbers suggest Zverev should start as the stronger player. This season he went 3-9 against top-10 players, but he also posted a combined 12-2 record against the other three players in his group. That is a useful contrast for an opening day that is supposed to establish the early shape of the John McEnroe Group.
Jodar arrives with a different kind of momentum. The 20-year-old won his first ATP title this year and also collected two top-10 wins. That gives him a reason to believe he can make his debut count, even against a player who has already beaten him once at Roland Garros.
John McEnroe Group begins its race to the semifinals
Sunday evening brings another key match, with Ben Shelton facing Arthur Fils. It means the first day of the Nitto ATP Finals will immediately begin to answer the main question in the group: who can put themselves in position for the semifinals before the week really settles.
For Zverev, the task is straightforward enough. Start well, use the experience of having already handled Jodar once before, and avoid giving the debutant the kind of opening that could change the feel of the group. For Jodar, the challenge is just as clear: make the most of the occasion and see whether the upset path is available from day one.
