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Overview

The typical complications of round-robin tennis mean by this stage of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves puzzled, scrambling about for a calculator and attempting to calculate the brain-busting qualification scenarios. However this evening's contest between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the victor secures a semifinal contest against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the loser goes home.

The German is the frontrunner for this: the world No 3 is the player with greater achievements, has claimed the title at this tournament on two prior occasions and holds the advantage in their personal record 6-3, having won both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.

Yet … this type of playing field on which Felix has secured most of his championships, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Shelton on recently and he took out Zverev in the US Championships third round in August. Furthermore, conditions are faster in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which works even more in AA’s favour.

If the German player is reserved, similar to his performance against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his effective service game and fearless play, it might very well be the North American athlete – the earlier standout who was previously positioned before Alcaraz and Sinner to take over from the Big Three – who secures the questionable privilege of competing with the global leader tomorrow.

The match starts: at about 8.30pm local time, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.