In an unexpected turn of events at the Rolex Paris Masters, several top seeds faced elimination, reshaping the landscape for the ATP Finals slated for Turin next month. Following Carlos Alcaraz’s earlier defeat, a trend of upsets continued, leaving many players scrambling for vital ranking points.
Among those managing to hold their ground is Alex de Minaur, who currently sits in seventh place, trailing Ben Shelton by a narrow margin of 35 points as both players aim for a coveted spot in the year-end championship. De Minaur’s journey in Paris was anything but straightforward; he found himself down a staggering 0-5 in the first set against Gabriel Diallo but rallied to secure a hard-fought victory of 7-6(8) 4-6 6-3 after nearly two-and-a-half hours on court.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is also in the mix for qualification, keeping his hopes alive with a dramatic 5-7 7-6(5) 7-6(4) win over Alexandre Muller. The Canadian, who is currently ranked ninth in the Race standings, knows that he must put pressure on eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti to retain his own chances. Auger-Aliassime’s match unfolded like a thriller, with the Canadian battling back from a break down in the second set and missing a match point at 6-5 in the final set, only to close out the victory by winning seven of the last eight points after falling behind 0-3 in the tie-break. This breakthrough pushes him closer to Musetti, who is now only 390 points ahead.
Musetti himself faced a daunting challenge, eventually losing to Lorenzo Sonego in a comeback performance, 3-6 6-3 6-1. This loss could have significant implications for Musetti’s standing in the Race, especially as he has been working hard to defend his position amidst a busy tournament schedule.
Daniil Medvedev, currently ranked 12th, was another significant player impacted this round. The former world No. 3 advanced courtesy of a walk-over against Grigor Dimitrov, who withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Dimitrov’s early exit adds to his recent struggles, having returned to competition only recently after a lengthy pectoral injury layoff.
Defending champion Alexander Zverev faced his own challenges after a grueling match against Ugo Carabelli, ultimately winning 6-7(5) 6-1 7-5 to secure a place in the third round. Zverev, now in third place in the Race standings following his win, reflected on the match, crediting Carabelli for upping his game compared to their previous encounter in Rome. Alongside Zverev, Taylor Fritz, who holds the fifth position in the standings, confirmed his qualification for Turin with a straight-set victory over Aleksander Vukic, winning 7-6(4) 6-2.
As the action continues in Paris, the stakes are higher than ever. With only a few matches left before the cut-off for the ATP Finals, players will be looking to secure their spots and gather momentum into the final stretch of the season.
