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Overview

The inherent challenges of group stage tennis often result in during this phase of the ATP Finals fans frequently find themselves confused, scrambling about for a calculator and attempting to calculate the mind-boggling permutations of qualification. Yet today's game between Alexander Zverev and Felix Auger-Aliassime, thankfully, is easy. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the successful player earns a semifinal contest against Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player goes home.

Zverev is the predicted winner for this: the elite athlete is the more experienced competitor, has been the champion at this competition on two prior occasions and leads their head-to-head 6-3, having won both their previous matches on an covered hard surface.

But … this is the surface on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he is in great form after his compelling comeback against Ben Shelton on Wednesday and he eliminated the German 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 AA’s favour.

If Zverev holds back, as he did against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the European player with his stinging serves and confident shots, it could well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the earlier standout who was previously positioned in front of the younger champions to replace the legendary trio – who obtains the dubious honour of playing against the world No 1 the next day.

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