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Introduction

The inherent challenges of round-robin tennis mean at this point of the season-ending championships 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 today's game between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is simple. It's a direct elimination: the successful player secures a final four battle against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the defeated player is eliminated.

Zverev is the favourite for this: the third-ranked player is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this event on two prior occasions and is ahead in their direct encounters 6-3, winning both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.

However … this particular court on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the bulk of his trophies, he is in great form after his impressive recovery against Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships early stage in late summer. Additionally, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in the Canadian's benefit.

If Zverev holds back, similar to his performance against the Italian, and the Canadian presses the European player with his powerful serves and confident shots, it might very well be the young Canadian – the one-time phenom who was earlier slated in front of Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the tennis icons – who obtains the questionable privilege of playing against the global leader the next day.

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