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Introduction

The occupational hazards of tournament pool play often result in at this point of the ATP World Tour Finals fans frequently find themselves puzzled, searching around for a mathematical tool and attempting to calculate the brain-busting qualification scenarios. But today's game between Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the winner secures a semifinal contest against Alcaraz at this year-end tournament; the unsuccessful competitor heads out.

Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the third-ranked player is the player with greater achievements, has previously won at this event previously on two instances and is ahead in their direct encounters six matches to three, having won both the games they've played on an covered hard surface.

Yet … this type of playing field on which Auger-Aliassime has claimed the majority of his titles, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Shelton on midweek and he defeated the German in the US Championships initial phase in late summer. Furthermore, the playing speed is higher in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in AA’s benefit.

If the German player is reserved, similar to his performance against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his stinging serves and fearless play, it might very well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the one-time phenom who was earlier slated ahead of the Spanish and Italian stars to replace the Big Three – who obtains the questionable privilege of playing against the top-ranked player tomorrow.

Action commences: at approximately 8:30 PM in Turin, 7:30 PM in the UK.