Zverev outclasses Humbert to win Paris Masters

The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece.

Germany's Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two.

Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati.

It was a happy return to Paris for Zverev, after he lost the French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June. Four years ago he lost the 2020 Paris Masters championship match to Daniil Medvedev.

"I knew I had to play like this to win today," said Zverev, who opened his victory speech by apologising to the crowd at Paris' Bercy Arena.

"I want to congratulate Ugo on an incredible week, (he's an) incredible player. If you continue like this, you'll be able to lift trophies like this. This is not your last chance, Ugo."

Zverev's victory in Saturday's semi-final meant the current world number three will overtake Spain's Alcaraz in the new updated rankings.

The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece.

Zverev will head into the event as the player with the most wins this year as Sunday's victory in the French capital was his 66th in 2024, taking him one ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner.

For 26-year-old Humbert it was a chastening experience at the end of a week that will live long in his memory as he reached his career-first Masters final on home soil.

The world number 18 stunned four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz in the last 16 as he delighted the vocal home crowds on his way to becoming the first French finalist at the indoor event in 13 years.

"I want to congratulate Sascha (Zverev) for the quality of the tennis he has played all this week, and season," said Humbert.

"I came as a kid to watch matches here (at the Paris Masters) and it made me want to do what I do, so I'm very happy to have reached the final."

- Punishing strokes -

If Humbert had any nerves at the start of his first 1000-level title match, he did not show them as he held serve in the opening game with a sublime forehand passing shot at full stretch.

But the sheer power of the German soon wore him down as Zverev forced a break point in the third game, which he converted as Humbert netted.

A second consecutive break for Zverev handed him a 4-1 lead and with that the first set.

Zverev was firmly in control of the match, making just four unforced errors to his opponent's 17 in the opener.

And as if to compound this, Humbert started the second set with a double fault as Zverev immediately moved into a 1-0 lead.

Zverev continued to grind his opponent down with his big serve and punishing groundstrokes, despite the efforts of the partisan crowd to boost Humbert.

But the Frenchman could make no headway on the German's service games, winning only four points on return in the second set, and did not manage to hold one of his own until the fifth game.

Zverev then served out to claim his second Masters trophy of the season, after victory on the clay of Rome in May.

Published - November 04, 2024 04:17 am IST