Paris Masters: It Was A Day For Upsets And Exciting Finishes

Alexei Popyrin
Alexei Popyrin (photo: ATP Tour video)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, October 30, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

As the second round continued at the Rolex Paris Masters on Wednesday, with players battling for 12 remaining spots in the third round of the last edition of the Masters 1000 event at Accor Arena in Bercy, it didn’t take very long for the upsets or exciting finishes to pile up.

First, on Court Cental, 24th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia survived a thriller against World No. 5 and 2020 Paris Masters champion Daniil Medvedev and walked off with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) upset victory that lasted two hours and 30 minutes. It’s the first time in four meetings that Popyrin has defeated Medvedev.

It was Popyrin’s second Top-5 triumph in 2024 after knocking Novak Djokovic out of the US Open in the third round, and it’s the third time he’s made it to the round of 16 at a Masters 1000 this season following Monte-Carlo and Montreal, where he defeated Andrey Rublev in the final to capture the biggest title of his career.

Popyrin converted three of 10 break points against the fourth-seeded Medvedev, hit 32 winners and overcame 52 unforced errors. Although Medvedev served 11 aces and hit 29 winners overall, he also committed 14 double faults — eight in the opening set — and made 42 unforced errors. Despite outpointing Popyrin 110-107, it was Medvedev’s third consecutive opening-round loss in Paris and left him running out of time to win his first title of 2024.

“Definitely it was unbelievable,” Popyrin said of the Court Central atmosphere, interviewed by ATP Media. “I’ve heard about the atmosphere here. They’re not lying, it’s a crazy atmosphere; the crowd is amazing. The last Masters of the year, I really want to do well. This is a great step for me.”

Next, Popyrin will face No. 21 Karen Khachanov of Russia, the 2018 Paris champion, who recovered nicely after losing a 26-point first-set tie-break to defeat No. 31 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, 6-7 (12), 6-1, 6-4, in an hour and 53 minutes on Court Central. The loss ended the Frenchman’s six-match winning streak, which included winning the ATP 500 Swiss Open title in Basel last Sunday.

Khachanov, who is tied for the ATP Tour lead in indoor wins (12) this season, is 10-1 in his last three tournaments — including a title won at Almaty and a runner-up finish at Vienna. He outpointed Mpetshi Perricard 99-74 and broke his opponent three times in three opportunities.

“It’s a pity I didn’t win the tie-break, but at the same time, that pushed me through,” Khachanov said during a court side interview with ATP Media. “I said ‘OK, if I keep playing like this, I will have chances’, and I got them.

“I played great, I didn’t lose my serve all match, and I think that’s what made the difference.”

Rinderknech, Dimitrov set third-round showdown 

Meanwhile, 60th-ranked French wild card Arthur Rinderknech dealt No. 44 Alex Michelsen of the United States a double tie-break defeat, beating the #NextGenATP American, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7), in two hours and 14 minutes on Court 2 to reach the third round in Paris for the first time. He dominated on both his own second serves and those of his opponent, winning more than 50 percent of those points. Rinderknech added 19 winners and outpointed Michelsen 95-91.

Next, Rinderknech will oppose No. 8 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, who rallied to beat No. 40 Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5. Dimitrov saved all three break points he faced and converted three of nine against the Argentine. He added 31 winners — including 10 aces — and outpointed his opponent 116-102 en route to his 45th win of the season.

The World No. 9 Dimitrov remains mathematically alive (10th place) in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and could move into sixth place if he were to win the Paris Masters title. He would jump ahead of Novak Djokovic (sixth), Casper Ruud (seventh) and Andrey Rublev (eighth), who are all unable to earn any further points this week.

“It’s tough conditions, at the end of the year it’s very tricky,” Dimitrov said in his post-match interview with ATP Media, after moving to 12-0 in opening rounds in Paris. “Everyone wants to empty their tank completely.

“He played an amazing first set. I’m far from the game I really want to play, but I’m adjusting. To win matches in that manner is way better for me than playing a clean match. I’m really happy with the fight. Of course, I really want to win every single match, but if I’m able to [show] that fight, I’m in a good place.”

Wednesday’s winners will join World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, World No. 11 Stefano Tsitsipas of Greece, No. 28 Jordan Thompson of Australia and No. 29 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who already secured their berths for the third round on Tuesday.

Around the Rolex Paris Masters

No. 15 seed Ugo Humbert of France defeated 49th-ranked American qualifier Marcos Giron, 6-3, 6-2, in 59 minutes on Court 1 to set up a third-round showdown with World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on Thursday.

The World No. 18 hit 24 winners and won 16 of his 59 total points off of Giron’s second serve. Humbert converted four of five break-point opportunities.

In his on-court interview with ATP Media, Humbert rated his performance against Giron an 8 out of 10. “Maybe a nine,” he quipped. “I really like to play here. You’re really close [to the fans] here and it’s faster than the center court. I played very well. … I’m super happy with my performance today.”

Humbert looks forward to playing Alcaraz on Court Central. He said: “It’s the kind of match I really like to play. I’m not afraid to play the best around the world. I’m really like it, in front of the French fans. I will have the crowd with me. I’m super happy to play against Carlos.”

Other second-round winners: No. 9 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, who defeated 55th-ranked lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, 6-4, 7-6 (5), and will meet No. 15 Jack Draper of Great Britain, who upset No. 5 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4, for his seventh straight win; and No. 13 seed Holger Rune of Denmark, who beat No. 33 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 6-2, and will face 85th-ranked French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux, who upset No. 19 Ben Shelton of the United States, 6-3, 7-6 (4), on Court Central in back of 21 winners for the biggest win of his career. Cazaux replaced top seed Jannik Sinner, who withdrew due to illness, in the main draw on Tuesday.

Also, 58th-ranked wild card Adrian Mannarino of France, who rallied over lucky loser Zizou Bergs of Belgium, ranked 65th, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Mannarino will face No. 28 Jordan Thompson of Australia to start play on Court Central Thursday.

Wednesday’s Rolex Paris Masters results

Thursday’s Rolex Paris Masters order of play

By the numbers

Arthur Fils reached his first ATP Masters 1000 round of 16 with his 6-3, 6-4 second-round victory over No. 42 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany on Court Central Wednesday.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, who is No. 1 on PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, hit 28 winners and saved all eight break points he faced. He improved to 9-1 against Top 50 players since the start of September, losing only to then-No. 23 Ben Shelton in the Swiss Open semifinals at Basel last Saturday.

“I had to remain focused and solid, because if I get out of focus, then I lose my break, and then it’s another type of match starting,” the 20th-ranked Fils said in his post-match news conference, translated from French. “I tried to vary my serve, especially during the second set, because when I was serving flat, my percentage was getting lower. He was playing very loose, so I had to change my tactics. But I’m glad, because I was focused from A to Z, and it went well.”

Next, Fils will face World No. 3 and third seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, who defeated No. 39 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 7-6 (6), 6-3, in 92 minutes on Court Central Wednesday night. Zverev hit 19 winners and outpointed Griekspoor 71-59. Zverev became the fourth different player to reach the round of 16 at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events in a single season in series history.

“Quotable …”

“I would give a lot to be in [Turin]. I’m in a place where I am still a contender, I’m still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys. This gives me confidence and makes me happy.”

— No. 8 seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, during his post-match interview Wednesday, after advancing to the third set and remaining alive in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

 

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