World No. 1 Zverev Loses in Paris Masters Last 32; Fils Seals First ATP Finals Spot

The German made a string of errors in his round-of-32 opener and exited quietly against the 24-year-old Musetti. | Photo Credit: AFP

Lorenzo Musetti spoiled Alexander Zverev’s first outing as world number one, beating the two-time Grand Slam champion 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 at the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

The German made a string of errors in his round-of-32 opener and exited quietly against the 24-year-old Italian. Former world number five Musetti became only the fifth man to beat a player in his first match as world number one.

Both men saved break points midway through the first set, but a tie-break always looked likely.

Zverev led 5-2 in the breaker, only for Musetti to win five straight points and take the set with a big serve out wide to Zverev’s backhand.

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Full of confidence, the Italian missed a break chance in the first game of the second set but made no mistake two games later, benefiting from a sloppy display by Zverev.

Musetti kept using his sliced backhand to great effect while unforced errors piled up on the side of the 2024 Paris Masters champion. A second break let the Italian serve for the match.

The world number 24 did so, sealing his place in the last 16 to love against a dejected Zverev.

File Photo: Arthur Fils sealed his first ATP Finals spot when compatriot Quentin Halys beat Frances Tiafoe at the Paris Masters. | Photo Credit: AP

Arthur Fils secured his first place at the season-ending ATP Finals. He qualified when his compatriot Quentin Halys beat American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10/8) in the Paris Masters second round.

Fils, 22 and ranked No. 7, will be the 10th Frenchman to play at the event and the first since Gael Monfils in 2016.

Fils joins Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev and Flavio Cobolli in the eight-man field. Jannik Sinner has qualified but will miss out through injury, leaving two places open.

Fils won the Cincinnati Open, his first Masters 1000 title, and the Barcelona Open this year, but injuries kept him out of the Australian Open and French Open. The ATP Finals run in Turin from November 15 to 22.