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Overview

The occupational hazards of round-robin tennis mean by this stage of the ATP Finals viewers are commonly puzzled, hastily looking for a computing device and trying to work out the complex potential outcomes for advancement. Yet tonight’s match between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the victor sets up a semifinal contest against Alcaraz at this championship finale; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.

Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the world No 3 is the more accomplished player, has previously won at this event on two prior occasions and leads their head-to-head with six victories against three defeats, winning both the games they've played on an indoor hard court.

However … this particular court on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he’s riding a high after his remarkable turnaround against Ben Shelton on recently and he eliminated Zverev in the US Open initial phase in late summer. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in AA’s favor.

If the German player is reserved, similar to his performance against the Italian, and Felix aggressively challenges the European player with his powerful serves and bold strategy, it might very well be the young Canadian – the former prodigy who was previously positioned before Alcaraz and Sinner to succeed the tennis icons – who earns the uncertain distinction of facing the world No 1 on Saturday.

The match starts: at approximately 8:30 PM in Turin, 19:30 Greenwich Mean Time.