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Overview

The typical complications of tournament pool play mean at this point of the ATP Finals we’re often left puzzled, searching around for a calculator and striving to determine the complex potential outcomes for advancement. But today's game between Zverev and Auger-Aliassime, fortunately, is simple. This is a winner-takes-all affair: the winner earns a semi-final battle against Carlos Alcaraz at this season-ending event; the defeated player heads out.

The German is the frontrunner for this: the world No 3 is the more experienced competitor, has previously won at this event twice before and leads their head-to-head 6-3, securing victories in both their past encounters on an enclosed hard court.

Yet … this type of playing field on which the Canadian has won the majority of his titles, he is full of confidence after his remarkable turnaround against Ben Shelton on midweek and he took out the German in the US Championships initial phase in August. Furthermore, the court pace is quicker in Turin than at Flushing Meadows, which provides an additional advantage in the Canadian's favor.

Should Zverev be cautious, similar to his performance against the Italian, and Auger-Aliassime takes it to the German with his powerful serves and bold strategy, it could well be the 25-year-old Canadian – the former prodigy who was once in line in front of Alcaraz and Sinner to replace the Big Three – who earns the dubious honour of facing the top-ranked player on Saturday.

The match starts: at approximately 8:30 PM in Turin, 7.30pm GMT.