Tennis News

Humbert rallies to Paris final after 13th consecutive indoor win

Ugo Humbert is an ATP Masters 1000 finalist. The French star moved past Karen Khachanov 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 on home soil at the Rolex Paris Masters on Saturday to advance to his maiden final at Masters 1000 level.

The 26-year-old played explosive tennis in front of an electric crowd in Paris and capitalised on Khachanov’s physical limitations in the closing stages of the third set to become the fifth Frenchman to reach the title match at the indoor hard event.

“It is amazing to do it in Paris at my favourite tournament. It is a dream,” Humbert said. “It was a little bit difficult compared to the previous matches. I felt a little more pressure and after the loss of the first set I tried to enjoy the moment and be with the crowd. I did very well and I am super proud.”

There’s no place like home 🫶🏡@HumbertUgo is through to his FIRST-EVER Masters 1000 final! #RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/vKGJDD1Rn8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2024

Humbert crushed the ball off both wings and soaked in the roars from the crowd to earn his 13th consecutive win on indoor hard courts in France. The 15th seed won the title in Metz last year and then triumphed indoors in Marseille in February.

Chasing his seventh tour-level title, Humbert will meet Alexander Zverev in the championship match on Sunday. Earlier this week, Humbert upset Carlos Alcaraz. The Frenchman, who hit 35 winners against Khachanov, is up four places to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will rise to a career-high No. 11 on Monday if he wins the title.

Khachanov was competitive until 3-2 in the third set, when he received a medical timeout for a leg injury. The No. 21 player in the PIF ATP Rankings lost serve in the seventh game of the third set and was unable to move in the final two games of the two-hour, 48-minute match.

Humbert is the first Frenchman to reach the final in Paris since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lost to Roger Federer in the 2011 title match. The last Frenchman to win the crown was Tsonga in 2008.

Humbert will aim to take his standout 6-1 record in finals into Sunday’s meeting with Zverev. The lefty, who lost his first ATP Tour final in Tokyo last month to Arthur Fils, is level at 1-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Zverev. Earlier this year Humbert lifted trophies in Dubai and Marseille, while Zverev clinched the crown at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome.

Khachanov is a former champion in Paris, having won the biggest title of his career in the French capital in 2018. The 28-year-old earned an impressive straight-sets win against Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals but ran out of steam against Humbert.

Khachanov finishes his year holding a 37-22 record, lifting trophies in Doha and Almaty.

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Sabalenka continues Zheng dominance at WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka continues her dominance over Zheng Qinwen with victory in the first match of the season-ending WTA Finals.

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Zverev beats Rune to reach Paris Masters final

World number three Alexander Zverev produces a superb performance to outclass former champion Holger Rune 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and reach the Paris Masters final.

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Zverev sinks Rune to reach Paris final

Alexander Zverev reached his first hard-court final of the season on Saturday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he overcame former champion Holger Rune to end the Dane’s faint Nitto ATP Finals hopes.

The German recovered from failing to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set, resisting a late fightback from Rune to eventually earn a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory after one hour and 47 minutes.

With his 65th win of the season, Zverev drew level with Jannik Sinner for the most victories on Tour in 2024, while he has climbed one spot to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, passing Carlos Alcaraz.

Zverev is a former finalist in Paris, having lost in the title match in 2020 to Daniil Medvedev. The 27-year-old is chasing his seventh ATP Masters 1000 crown and first hard-court trophy above ATP 250 level since he won the Nitto ATP Finals in 2021.

Zverev, who will compete at the prestigious year-end event in Turin, to be held from 10-17 November, will meet French star Ugo Humbert or former champion Karen Khachanov in the Paris final on Sunday.

Zverev led Rune 5-3 in the second set and looked set for a comfortable victory on Court Central, having dominated for large periods. However, Rune held serve and then broke Zverev’s serve for the first time in the match when trailing 4-5. The Dane then held in a mammoth 12-minute game but Zverev refused to fade. The German, who won 84 per cent (37/44) of his first-serve points in the match according to Infosys ATP Stats, forced a tie-break and upped his aggression and intensity in the closing stages to advance.

Rune won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Paris two years ago when he beat Novak Djokovic in the title match. The Dane needed to lift the trophy in the French capital once again to keep alive his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev, who has advanced to 12 ATP Masters 1000 finals, leads Rune 3-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having defeated the 21-year-old at Roland Garros and in Montreal earlier this season.

More to follow…

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Koolhof/Mektic reach Paris final

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic moved to within one win of capturing their third ATP Masters 1000 title of the season together on Saturday, when they defeated Neal Skupski and Michael Venus at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The sixth seeds did not face a break point and won 93 per cent (25/27) of their first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats en route to a 6-2, 6-4 triumph.

Koolhof and Mektic have won four trophies in 2024 including Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Shanghai and will compete at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 10-17 November.

The Dutch-Croatian team will play Lloyd Glasspool and Adam Pavlasek in the final on Sunday.

Glasspool and Pavlasek secured a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 win over fourth seeds Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.

The pair won 72 per cent (28/39) of their first-serve points and saved all three break points they faced in their one-hour, eight-minute victory.

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Scouting Report: Ruud, De Minaur, Rublev chase Turin spots in Belgrade & Metz

The final week of the regular ATP Tour season is here, with ATP 250 events at the Belgrade Open and the Moselle Open.

Chasing precious points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, Alex de Minaur leads the field in Belgrade, where Stan Wawrinka also competes. In Metz, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud will aim to seal their spots at the Nitto ATP Finals.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch ahead of the two indoor hard events.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN METZ
1) Ruud chasing Turin: Casper Ruud arrives in Metz seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The Norwegian, who is on 3,855 points, is aiming to make his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 10-17 November. The 25-year-old will try to break a three-match losing streak when he takes on Roberto Bautista Agut or a qualifier in his first match.

2) Rublev aiming to join Ruud in Italy: Andrey Rublev is the top seed in Metz and is two spots behind Ruud in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The 27-year-old is on 3,720 points, trailing Ruud by 135 points, with eighth-placed Alex de Minaur (3,745 points) in between. Rublev is chasing his third title of the year in the north east of France.   

3) Defending champ Humbert: Fresh off his deep run at the Rolex Paris Masters, Ugo Humbert bids for more success on home soil in Metz. The defending Metz champion also triumphed in Marseille this season, in addition to his Dubai title. While both of those trophies came early in the season, Humbert reached the Tokyo final in September, early in the indoor hard-court season. He will open his Metz campaign with an all-French matchup against Hugo Gaston. 

4) Rune’s late-season run: Holger Rune is writing a strong closing chapter to his 2024 season, with recent semi-final showings in Tokyo, Basel and Paris. The Metz fourth seed will face a quick turnaround after his Paris run, a transition made easier by the relative proximity of the two French cities, just a three-hour drive apart.

5) #NextGenATP Michelsen: Alex Michelsen’s season will wrap up at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, but the 20-year-old American first has a chance to build some winning momentum as the eighth seed in Metz. Though he is 2-3 in his past three events, Michelsen beat 12th seed Hubert Hurkacz in Paris and pushed both Novak Djokovic (Shanghai) and Arthur Rinderknech (Paris) to two tie-breaks in defeat. 

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN BELGRADE

1) Can De Minaur seal Turin spot?: After reaching the quarter-finals in Paris, Alex de Minaur arrives in Belgrade in eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. The Australian, on 3,745 points, is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. He will play Stan Wawrinka or Laslo Djere in his opening match.

2) Cerundolo seeks second title: With one title in each of 2022 (Bastad), 2023 (Eastbourne) and 2024 (Umag), Francisco Cerundolo could close his campaign by clinching his first multi-trophy season on the ATP Tour. The Argentine was beaten by Stefanos Tsitsipas in Basel and Paris, but notched a 7-6(6), 7-6(5) win against Rublev in the French capital.

3) Four Serbians dot the draw: The host nation will be represented by Miomir Kecmanovic, Dusan Lajovic and wild cards Hamad Medjedovic and Laslo Djere. Both Lajovic (vs. Nuno Borges) and Medjedovic (vs. Brandon Nakashima) will open against seeded players, while Djere meets wild card Wawrinka and Kecmanovic takes on Aussie Christopher O’Connell.

4) Cilic, Wawrinka, Fognini represent old guard: Marin Cilic (36), Fabio Fognini (37) and Wawrinka (39) will be among the fan favourites in Belgrade as the veterans seek strong finishes to their years. Cilic, who enters with a protected ranking, opens against Alexandre Muller, while Fogini faces Roman Safiullin in the first round.

5) China’s Shang seeks return to form before Jeddah: After winning his maiden tour-level title in Chengdu in September, 19-year-old Shang Juncheng has picked up just one more tour-level win during the indoor swing. With the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF looming, Shang will look to rediscover his top form, beginning with his opening match against Fabian Marozsan.

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Boulter battles past Yuan to reach Hong Kong final

Great Britain’s Katie Boulter reaches her third WTA final of the year with a 6-2 5-7 6-2 victory over China’s Yue Yuan at the Hong Kong Open.

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Nitto ATP Finals 2024: Draws, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The world’s best players are set to compete at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next week with Jannik Sinner chasing his first crown at the prestigious season finale.

When is the Nitto ATP Finals?
The 2024 Nitto ATP Finals will be held from 10-17 November. The indoor hard-court event, established in 1970, will take place at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. The tournament director is Adam Hogg.

What is the format & who is playing at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals?
The event in Turin will see eight players divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz will compete. The final three places will be determined in coming days.

When is the draw for the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals?
The Turin draw will be made on Thursday 7 November at 12:00 p.m.

What is the schedule for the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals?
* Main Draw Round-Robin Matches: Sunday 10 November – Friday 15 November. Afternoon session starts at 11:30 a.m. (doubles), 2:00 p.m. (singles). Evening session 6:00 p.m (doubles), not before 8:30 p.m. (singles).
* Semi-finals: Saturday 16 November. Afternoon session starts at 12:00 p.m. (doubles), 2:30 p.m. (singles). Evening session not before 6:00 p.m. (doubles), not before 8:30 p.m. (singles).
* Final: Sunday 17 November. Doubles final at 3:00 p.m. and singles final at 6:00 p.m.

View On Official Website

What is the prize money for the Nitto ATP Finals?
The prize money for the Nitto ATP Finals is $15,250,000
Singles Undefeated Champion: $4,881,100
Final Win: $ 2,237,200
Semi-Final Win: $1,123,400
Each Round-Robin Match Win: $396,500
Participation Fee: $331,000
Alternate: $155,000

Doubles (per team) Undefeated Champion: $959,300
Final Win: $356,800
Semi-Final Win: $178,500
Each Round-Robin Match Win: $96,600
Participation Fee: $134,200
Alternate: $51,700

How can I watch the Nitto ATP Finals?
Watch Live on TennisTV
TV Schedule

How can I follow the Nitto ATP Finals?
Hashtag: #NittoATPFinals
Instagram: @nittoatpfinals
Facebook: Nitto ATP Finals
YouTube: ATPTour
Twitter: ATPTour

Who won the last edition of the Nitto ATP Finals in 2023?
Novak Djokovic delivered a flawless performance and defeated Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 to clinch a record-breaking seventh crown at the 2023 Nitto ATP finals. (Read & Watch)

Who holds the Nitto ATP Finals record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion, and more?
Most Titles, Singles: Novak Djokovic (7)
Oldest Champion: Novak Djokovic, 36, in 2023
Youngest Champion: John McEnroe, 19, in 1978
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1s Ilie Nastase (1973), Jimmy Connors (1977), Bjorn Borg (1979-80), John McEnroe (1984), Ivan Lendl (1985-87), Pete Sampras (1994, 1996-97), Lleyton Hewitt (2002), Roger Federer (2004, 2006-07), Novak Djokovic (2012, 2014-15) and Andy Murray (2016)
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 12 David Nalbandian in 2005
Last Home Champion: Andy Murray in London in 2016
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (59)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

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Khachanov's hot streak sinks Dimitrov's Turin hopes in Paris

Karen Khachanov snapped a four-match losing streak against Grigor Dimitrov to charge into the Rolex Paris Masters semi-finals Friday night as he eliminated the Bulgarian from Nitto ATP Finals contention with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win.

Dimitrov needed to beat Khachanov and then advance to the final to pass eighth-placed Alex De Minaur in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin and move inside the cut for the season finale, which he won on debut in 2017.

In a battle between this year’s leading indoor match wins leaders, Dimitrov lacked his usual spark after a draining third-set tie-break win over Arthur Rinderknech the night before. In contrast, an energized Khachanov continued his sizzling form, claiming his 12^th win in his past 13 matches.

“I started sharp from the baseline and tried to put pressure from the beginning,” Khachanov said. “I was able to break him in the first game and take the lead and after that I noticed that he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent. But he wanted to play and I respect that. Credit to him for that.”

Asked to explain the hot streak that has taken him to the Almaty title, the Vienna final and now to his fifth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, Khachanov said, “I try not to think about it, to be honest. When you are felling the rhythm, feeling the momentum you just want to continue enjoying the moment and continue playing the same way, with just a slight change of tactics for a different opponent. But playing with the same belief, enthusiasm and enjoyment.”

😤 @holgerrune2003
🔥 @AlexZverev
🚀 @karenkhachanov
⭐️ @HumbertUgo

Who will reach the #RolexParisMasters showpiece final? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/LmkdYB95eS

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 1, 2024

The 2018 Paris champion, who saved a match point in his opening match this week against Australian Christopher O’Connell, was 0-4 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Dimitrov, who won a third-set tie-break on an indoor hard court in Marseille in their lone meeting this year.

Dimitrov had a disappointing night on serve, putting just 48 per cent of first serves into play and winning only six of 26 second-serve points. In contrast, Khachanov needed to hit just 11 second serves for the match, winning seven. He did not face a break point. Khachanov made just 12 unforced errors to Dimitrov’s 28.

In the semi-finals Khachanov will play Ugo Humbert, who advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final when he moved past Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6(4).

The French lefty upset World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in front of an electric crowd on Thursday night and backed up that win by defeating Thompson in one hour and 38 minutes.

In a dramatic second set, Humbert squandered two match points on Thompson’s serve at 5-4 before he lost his serve in the following game. The Frenchman quickly broke back to force a tie-break, sealing victory on his third match point.

Humbert has won his past 12 matches on French indoor hard courts, having lifted trophies in Metz last year and in Marseille in February. The 26-year-old is the first Frenchman to reach the last four in Paris since Julien Benneteau fell to Jack Sock in 2017.

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Koolhof/Mektic eye further Masters 1000 glory in Paris

Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic continued the quest for their fifth title of the season and third at ATP Masters 1000 level together on Friday at the Rolex Paris Masters where they defeated third seeds Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 7-6(13), 7-5.

The sixth seeds saved four set points in an epic opening set before they fended off all five break points they faced in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to a one-hour, 47-minute quarter-final triumph.

Koolhof and Mektic have won Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Shanghai this year and will compete at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held from 10-17 November. The Dutch-Croatian team will play Neal Skupski and Michael Venus in the semi-finals in Paris.

The British-New-Zealand pair defeated Ariel Behar and Robert Galloway 6-4, 6-2 in 63 minutes. Skupski and Venus reached the final in Vienna last week and beat top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in straight sets in Paris.

Lloyd Glasspool and Adam Pavlasek were also winners on Friday. They downed Frenchmen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul 7-6(5), 6-4. Glasspool and Pavlasek will next take on Wimbledon champions Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten or US Open titlists Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson.

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