As the race to Turin heats up, Carlos Alcaraz suffers shock at the Paris Masters
World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was “was not up to the level” with France’s 18th-ranked Hugo Humbert after his surprise victory over the Spanish superstar in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday.
The left-handed Humbert registered his first French Open and Wimbledon win after losing 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to Alcaraz in early 2024. It was a testing night for Alcaraz, who went down 0-5 in the first set before getting on the scoreboard.
“It was a very intense match. I started with some doubts about my game. Against a player who attacks whenever he can, who hits very aggressively at the slightest opportunity, it wasn’t easy to get into the match,” admitted Alcaraz.
“I’m proud,” said Humbert, who won twice in Marseille and Dubai in 2024.
“It was a crazy game, crazy atmosphere.”
Alcaraz has had a rollercoaster second half of the season after losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Paris Olympics. He lost to World No. 74 Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of the US Open, defeated No. 1
Jannik Sinner in the final in Beijing, before getting knocked out by the world No. 33 Tomas Machak in the quarterfinals, Shanghai Masters.
Humbert will face Australian Jordan Thompson for a place in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters. The French top rated edged Alcaraz 28-23 on Thursday, as both made 38 unforced errors.
28th-ranked Thompson advanced to the Masters quarter-finals for the first time by beating Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur’s bid to become the first Australian to reach an ATP Tour final since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago continued as he beat the no.9 Britain’s Jack Draper, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
The win earned De Minaur his eighth and final qualifying spot for the main event of the season in Turin.
“I’m going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, show my opponent that I can do that all day. I needed to bring that intensity because Jack is a hell of a competitor, playing with so much confidence right now,” said De Minaur.
He will now face 13th ranked Holger Rune of Denmark, who defeated lucky loser Arthur Cazaux 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Stefanos Tsitsipas said he was feeling like a “bull” as he advanced to the ATP Tour finals with a 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
“Starting the second set, I felt like a bull,” said 26-year-old Tsitsipas who likely needs a run to the Paris final to stay in contention for Turin.
The Greek player, ranked 11th in the world, will now face world number 3 Alexander Zverev, who advanced to the semi-finals after defeating France’s Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Zverev hit 16 aces and saved three break points to win 5-3 in the decider.
The German star will be playing in his 31st Masters quarter-final when he meets Tsitsipas, who has won 10 of the duo’s 15 meetings.
In Paris, 2018 Russian champion Karen Khachanov defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and will now face Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov or France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
