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Preamble

The inherent challenges of group stage tennis typically lead to during this phase of the season-ending championships we’re often left puzzled, scrambling about for a computing device and trying to work out the complex permutations of qualification. However today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, mercifully, is easy. It's a direct elimination: the successful player sets up a semi-final contest against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the unsuccessful competitor goes home.

Zverev is the favourite for this: the world No 3 is the player with greater achievements, has previously won at this event twice before and holds the advantage in their personal record six matches to three, winning both their previous matches on an covered hard surface.

However … this particular court on which Felix has secured most of his championships, 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 August. Furthermore, the court pace is quicker in the host city than at the US Open venue, which works even more in Auger-Aliassime's benefit.

If the German player is reserved, like he was against Sinner, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his stinging serves and confident shots, it could well be the North American athlete – the one-time phenom who was earlier slated ahead of the younger champions to take over from the legendary trio – who obtains the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player on Saturday.

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