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Introduction

The inherent challenges of round-robin tennis typically lead to during this phase of the season-ending championships viewers are commonly puzzled, searching around for a calculator and trying to work out the brain-busting potential outcomes for advancement. However this evening's contest between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the successful player sets up a semi-final battle against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor is eliminated.

Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the player with greater achievements, has been the champion at this competition previously on two instances and leads their head-to-head with six victories against three defeats, having won both their previous matches on an enclosed hard court.

Yet … this type of playing field on which Felix has secured the bulk of his trophies, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on recently and he took out Zverev in the US Open initial phase in late summer. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in the host city than at the US Open venue, which provides an additional advantage in Auger-Aliassime's favour.

If the German player is reserved, like he was against Sinner, and the Canadian presses the European player with his stinging serves and fearless play, it might very well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the former prodigy who was previously positioned ahead of Alcaraz and Sinner to replace the legendary trio – who secures the uncertain distinction of playing against the global leader the next day.

The match starts: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7:30 PM in the UK.