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Overview

The typical complications of group stage tennis often result in by this stage of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves scratching our heads, scrambling about for a calculator and striving to determine the mind-boggling potential outcomes for advancement. However tonight’s match between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the successful player secures a final four battle against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.

The German is the frontrunner for this: the third-ranked player is the player with greater achievements, has previously won at this event on two prior occasions and leads their head-to-head with six victories against three defeats, securing victories in both their past encounters on an covered hard surface.

However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the bulk of his trophies, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on midweek and he eliminated the German in the US Championships initial phase in August. Plus, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at the US Open venue, which is even more beneficial in Auger-Aliassime's favour.

If Zverev holds back, as he did against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the European player with his effective service game and fearless play, it might very well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the one-time phenom who was previously positioned before Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the tennis icons – who earns the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player on Saturday.

Play begins: at around 20:30 in the host city, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.