In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Masters on Friday, German third seed Alexander Zverev defeated Greek tenth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4. The victory not only secured Zverev’s spot in the semifinals but also ended Tsitsipas’ aspirations of qualifying for this year’s season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
The opening set was a closely contested battle, with both players showcasing exceptional skill and resilience. However, Zverev found his rhythm and managed to clinch the set 7-5. Building on this momentum, the World No. 3 dominated the second set, quickly establishing a 5-3 lead before sealing the match in one hour and 40 minutes.
Zverev’s serve was a decisive factor in the match. He fired nine aces and won 71 percent of his first-serve points, putting constant pressure on Tsitsipas. Reflecting on his performance, Zverev said, “I thought the whole match was a very good level from him. I got into the match and I found my rhythm, and felt more and more comfortable, and am happy with the win.”
With this win, the 27-year-old Zverev joins tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only active players to reach 20 or more Masters 1000 semifinals. It also marks his sixth career victory over World No. 11 Tsitsipas.
For Tsitsipas, the defeat is a significant setback, ending his streak of five consecutive ATP Finals appearances. His loss opens up the competition for other contenders vying for a spot in Turin.
Looking ahead to the semifinals, Zverev will face defending Paris Masters champion Holger Rune. The Danish 13th seed advanced after a hard-fought victory over Australia’s Alex de Minaur, winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Rune’s win keeps his slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive.
In other quarterfinal action, France’s Ugo Humbert continued his impressive run by defeating Jordan Thompson of Australia 6-2, 7-6(4). Humbert, who previously upset second seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, will face Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the semifinals. Khachanov, the 2018 Paris Masters champion, showcased dominant form by defeating eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-3 in just over an hour.
The semifinals promise exciting matchups as players vie for the prestigious Paris Masters title and aim to secure their positions in the ATP Finals. With high stakes and top-tier talent, tennis enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly anticipating the next round of play.
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Alexander Zverev ends Stefanos Tsitsipas' hopes of reaching ATP Finals
cgtn.com
