Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to Paris Masters title as Arthur Fils shines – our predictions
The 2024 season is slowly starting to wind down but there is still time for one more big event before the year-end championships next month: the Paris Masters.
Since the event launched in 1969, the Paris Masters has become one of the most prestigious titles to win in tennis – with several of the game’s greats prevailing in the French capital.
Defending champion and tournament record-holder Novak Djokovic is not defending his title and, in his absence, all eyes will be on two men: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
They are the top two seeds in the draw and are joined at the top of the draw by third seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, with all of the top 10 bar Djokovic in action.
With action underway soon, we make our predictions for the final Masters 1000 event of 2024.
Alcaraz lifts title
Alcaraz has never reached the final of an indoor tournament during his career, though that looks set to change in Bercy this coming week.
The Spaniard should be well-rested after a surprise Shanghai loss – only playing the Six Kings Slam since then – and has been handed a hugely favourable draw.
After an opening bye, he could face out-of-form Nicolas Jarry in round two before 15th seed Ugo Humbert – who he beat at Wimbledon – waits in round three.
His projected quarter-final opponent is seventh seed Casper Ruud – another player struggling for form – while he holds a 6-2 advantage in his head-to-head against potential semi-finalist Medvedev.
Alcaraz has a kind path in Paris, and he should be able to take advantage and win the title.
ATP Tour News
Jannik Sinner handed nightmare Paris Masters draw as Carlos Alcaraz gets lucky
Sinner falls at final hurdle
The dominant force on hard courts in 2024, Sinner approached this tournament as a warm favourite to lift the title.
That was until the draw was made, with the Italian handed a much tougher path to the final than main rival and second seed Alcaraz.
Sinner will face Ben Shelton or Felix Auger-Aliassime in round two, before a potential round three against 13th seed Holger Rune, quarter-final against fifth seed Taylor Fritz, and semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
He has proven he can beat pretty much anyone on hard courts and he is still the favourite to reach the final, but how much energy will he have come the final?
With Alcaraz 3-0 up in ATP tour meetings between the two this season, the contrast in draws seemingly tips things in his favour.
Fils flies
With a hugely successful generation of French players slowly leaving the game, France has found a new ATP poster boy in the form of Arthur Fils.
The 20-year-old has improved dramatically in 2024 and has won two significant ATP 500 titles already this year.
He is unseeded in Bercy but his draw is an intriguing one – and he could take advantage.
An opening round against Marin Cilic is not easy, but on current form, he is arguably the favourite, while a contest against 16th Lorenzo Musetti in round two is also winnable.
That would set up a third round against Zverev, who is struggling with form post-pneumonia – and whom Fils beat to win the title in Hamburg.
With sixth seed Andrey Rublev – another in erratic form recently – also in this section, a deep run for Fils looks possible.
Medvedev struggles
2024 has been a strange season for Medvedev, who is fourth in the ATP Race to Turin – and has sealed his ATP Finals place – but has not won a single title.
His form and level have been hard to predict throughout recent months and while Bercy is a happy hunting ground for him, the 2020 champion and 2021 runner-up has a tough draw.
The Russian could face Matteo Berrettini as early as the second round, and then potentially 14th seed Frances Tiafoe before a quarter-final against eighth seed and 2023 runner-up Grigor Dimitrov.
Considering the draw he could face, it is hard to see the former world No 1 making the last four.
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