Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic both crashed out of the Paris Masters on Wednesday in a day of major upsets in Nanterre, with the new world No. 1 losing to Lorenzo Musetti and Djokovic beaten by Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, while Carlos Alcaraz kept his campaign alive.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev and seventh seed Frances Tiafoe also went out in the round of 32, leaving the draw of the last ATP Masters 1000 event of the season wide open.
Paris Masters Results: The Big Upsets
| Winner | Loser | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Musetti (ranked 24) | Alexander Zverev (No. 1) | 7-6(5), 6-2 |
| Rinky Hijikata (ranked 83, qualifier) | Novak Djokovic | 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
| Ignacio Buse | Daniil Medvedev (5th seed) | Straight sets |
| Quentin Halys | Frances Tiafoe (7th seed) | – |
| Carlos Alcaraz (2nd seed) | Alex Michelsen | 7-6(4), 6-3 |
Zverev’s Rough Start as World No. 1
Zverev rose to the top of the rankings this month for the first time in his career after winning the French Open and the US Open, but his first tournament as No. 1 ended early. He was ahead in the first-set tiebreak against Musetti before losing five points in a row, and the Italian then took six of the next eight games to close out the match. Zverev said afterwards that he was annoyed at having to justify being No. 1.
Musetti, a former world No. 5 who has slipped to 24th, produced one of the best wins of his season and reached the last 16.
Djokovic Loses to a Qualifier
Djokovic, a seven-time champion in Paris, won the first set comfortably but faded as Hijikata, ranked 83rd in the world, took the next two sets. The defeat ended his hopes of an eighth Paris Masters title and also ended his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Asked about his plans, Djokovic said his plan was “just rest”.
How the Paris Masters Upsets Affect the ATP Finals Race
The Paris Masters is the last big chance for players to earn points before the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, which run from November 15 to 22. Results in Paris have a direct impact on who takes the last places in the eight-man field.
- Arthur Fils secured his place at the ATP Finals after Tiafoe’s loss.
- Novak Djokovic can no longer qualify after his defeat to Hijikata.
- Carlos Alcaraz now becomes the clear favourite for the Paris title with Zverev and Djokovic out.
What Happens Next at the Paris Masters
Alcaraz will face Matteo Berrettini in the last 16. Alcaraz has already won several big titles in his young career, and with the top seed gone, a deep run in Paris would also strengthen his push to finish the year strongly.
Musetti and Hijikata will look to build on their biggest wins of the week, while the rest of the field now sees a real chance to win a Masters 1000 title. For Pakistani tennis fans following the season through streaming platforms, the remaining matches promise an open finish to the indoor season.
About the Paris Masters
The Paris Masters, now played at an indoor arena in Nanterre, is the final ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year. It is played indoors on hard courts and traditionally decides the last spots for the ATP Finals. Djokovic holds the record for most titles at the event with seven.
For official updates, visit the ATP Tour website.
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