Alexander Zverev Advances in Paris Masters

Alexander Zverev opened his Paris Masters run with a commanding 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor displaying precise form by hitting 19 winners making only nine unforced errors and landing 86% of his first serves during the 92-minute match. “One of the fastest courts I’ve ever played on,” Alexander Zverev said, noting the challenge of finding rhythm early but expressing satisfaction with his win.

Zverev’s victory also made him the fourth player to reach the last 16 in all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in a single season. Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev the fourth seed faced an upset by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in a tightly contested 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) match. Medvedev, who exited controversially last year after allegedly gesturing obscenely to the crowd, couldn’t pull through as Popyrin overcame his second-set struggles to secure his spot in the next round.

American contenders Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton also saw early exits. Fifth-seed Fritz lost a close three-set match to Jack Draper 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-4 while Shelton fell to French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux, who stepped in for Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). In other matches, Australian Alex de Minaur the ninth seed defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and 13th-seed Holger Rune of Denmark continued his strong form by beating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2.

Eighth-seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria staged a comeback against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, winning 6-7 (9-11), 6-3, 7-5. The day also saw 15th-seed Ugo Humbert of France overcome American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-2 setting up a meeting with Carlos Alcaraz. Fellow Frenchman Arthur Fils advanced as well defeating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4.