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Introduction

The occupational hazards of tournament pool play mean by this stage of the ATP Finals we’re often left scratching our heads, hastily looking for a mathematical tool and attempting to calculate the brain-busting potential outcomes for advancement. Yet tonight’s match between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is straightforward. It's a direct elimination: the successful player secures a semifinal battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.

Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the elite athlete is the more experienced competitor, has previously won at this competition twice before and leads their head-to-head six matches to three, securing victories in both their previous matches on an covered hard surface.

However … this particular court on which the Canadian has won most of his championships, he is full of confidence after his impressive recovery against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he defeated the German in the US Championships initial phase in late summer. Plus, conditions are faster in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in AA’s favour.

Should Zverev be cautious, like he was against Sinner, and Felix aggressively challenges the European player with his powerful serves and bold strategy, it might very well be the North American athlete – the former prodigy who was earlier slated in front of the younger champions to replace the tennis icons – who secures the dubious honour of playing against the world No 1 on Saturday.

Action commences: at around 20:30 in the host city, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.