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Preamble

The typical complications of group stage tennis often result in at this point of the ATP World Tour Finals we’re often left puzzled, scrambling about for a computing device and trying to work out the mind-boggling potential outcomes for advancement. However tonight’s match between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player secures a final four battle against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.

Zverev is the favourite for this: the elite athlete is the player with greater achievements, has claimed the title at this tournament twice before and leads their head-to-head six matches to three, winning both their previous matches on an covered hard surface.

However … this particular court on which Felix has secured most of his championships, he’s riding a high after his compelling comeback against Shelton on Wednesday and he defeated Zverev in the US Championships early stage in August. Plus, conditions are faster in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in Auger-Aliassime's favor.

If the German player is reserved, as he did against the Italian, and the Canadian presses the German with his effective service game and bold strategy, it could well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the former prodigy who was earlier slated ahead of the younger champions to take over from the Big Three – who obtains the uncertain distinction of facing the top-ranked player tomorrow.

Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.