Alcaraz Breezes Through Opener at Paris Masters
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz opened his campaign at the Paris Masters on Tuesday with a commanding 7-5, 6-1 victory over Chilean Nicolas Jarry.
After receiving a bye in the first round, Alcaraz quickly took a 3-0 lead in his round of 32 match but faced a brief challenge from Jarry, ultimately securing the first set 7-5.
In the second set, Alcaraz showcased his dominance, granting Jarry only one game as he raced to victory. “It’s been two years since I have won a match here in Paris, so every time that I keep going is a gift for me,” reflected the 21-year-old Spaniard. “I’m just really happy to get through the opening set; it was really important for me to come into the second with more confidence. I need time to get used to the speed of the court.”
Alcaraz, now a heavy favorite to claim his first title on hard courts at Bercy Arena, will face either Frenchman Ugo Humbert or American Marcos Giron in the round of 16, following the withdrawal of Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner due to an intestinal virus.
In other matches, Argentine Francisco Cerundolo edged Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) in a nearly two-hour, 20-minute encounter.
Poland’s 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz suffered an upset, losing 1-6, 3-6 to American Alex Michelsen in just over 50 minutes.
Alex de Minaur advanced by defeating Argentina’s Mariano Navone 7-5, 6-1, keeping his ATP Finals hopes alive. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas also moved on with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Alejandro Tabilo of Chile. Holger Rune secured a straightforward 6-4, 6-4 victory over Matteo Arnaldi, while Ben Shelton triumphed in a three-set battle against French player Corentin Moutet.
In another notable match, French wildcard Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. Meanwhile, Richard Gasquet, who announced his retirement from tennis after next year’s French Open, bowed out of the Paris Masters with a 3-6, 4-6 loss to Belgian Zizou Bergs.
