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Overview

The occupational hazards of tournament pool play mean during this phase of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves scratching our heads, hastily looking for a computing device and attempting to calculate the mind-boggling qualification scenarios. Yet today's game between Alexander Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is easy. It’s a straight shootout: the winner sets up a final four contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the loser goes home.

Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the elite athlete is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this tournament twice before and leads their head-to-head with six victories against three defeats, having won both the games they've played on an enclosed hard court.

Yet … this type of playing field on which the Canadian has won the bulk of his trophies, he’s riding a high after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on midweek and he eliminated Zverev in the US Open early stage in August. Additionally, conditions are faster in Turin than at the US Open venue, which works even more in AA’s favour.

If the German player is reserved, similar to his performance against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his effective service game and bold strategy, it could well be the North American athlete – the earlier standout who was once in line before the younger champions to succeed the tennis icons – who obtains the dubious honour of competing with the global leader the next day.

Action commences: at around 20:30 in the host city, 7.30pm GMT.