An action-packed October on the ATP Tour saw Jannik Sinner continue his standout season by clinching his third ATP Masters 1000 trophy of 2024 in Shanghai. On European indoor hard courts, Jack Draper and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard achieved their most significant titles to date by triumphing in Vienna and Basel, respectively, before Alexander Zverev notched his second Masters 1000 success of the season in Paris.
ATPTour.com reflects on the champions of October.
[ATP APP]Rolex Shanghai Masters, Shanghai – Jannik Sinner
After becoming the first Italian to win the US Open in September, Sinner carved more history in October. The 23-year-old downed Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 6-3 in the Rolex Shanghai Masters final to become the youngest champion in tournament history. By denying Djokovic a 100th tour-level title, the World No. 1 Sinner clinched his Tour-leading seventh title of 2024 and levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 4-4.
Sinner's final triumph in China was his personal-best 65th win of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss index. Throughout the tournament, Sinner demonstrated solid form and dropped his only set against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round. Following his semi-final win against Tomas Machac, the 23-year-old clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, becoming the first Italian to achieve the feat.
Rolex Paris Masters, Paris – Alexander Zverev
Zverev joined Sinner in claiming a late-season Masters 1000 crown with a similarly dominant run at the Rolex Paris Masters. The German dropped one set all week at Paris-Bercy, where he raced past home favourite Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in the championship match.
The 27-year-old Zverev's title run in Paris took him clear of Sinner at the top of the match wins leaderboard for 2024 with 66 tour-level victories. It also ensured his return to No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings ahead of the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
From Paris, with love 😘#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters | @AlexZverev pic.twitter.com/rnk6WJRrbj
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 3, 2024Erste Bank Open, Vienna – Jack Draper
After reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open in September, Jack Draper unlocked more success in October. The 22-year-old clinched his maiden ATP 500 crown and second tour-level title overall at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, a triumph that helped him ascend to a career-high No. 15 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
The Briton defeated snapped Karen Khachanov's eight-match winning streak with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph in the final. Draper found some of his best tennis to complete a near-perfect week during which he dropped his only set against Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals. He also became the first player to win Vienna on his debut since countryman Andy Murray achieved the feat in 2014.
Swiss Indoors Basel, Basel – Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
It was a dream week for rising star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who clinched his second tour-level title and maiden ATP 500 crown at the Swiss Indoors Basel. The Frenchman ousted Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final, denying the American a third tour-level title. The 21-year-old Mpetshi Perricard remained unbroken all week and fired 109 aces in five matches, demonstrating why he is seen as one of the most exciting talents on Tour. After beginning the season at No. 205 and steadily climbing the rankings through the year, the Basel triumph lifted him to a career-high No. 31 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Mpetshi Perricard stunned two-time defending Basel champion Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round and fourth seed Holger Rune in the semi-finals. With the title, the 6’8” Frenchman became the lowest-ranked champion since the Swiss Indoors Basel became a tour-level event in 1975.
Almaty Open, Almaty – Karen Khachanov
Third seed Karen Khachanov edged Gabriel Diallo at the Almaty Open to clinch his seventh tour-level title. The 28-year-old registered a thrilling 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win over the Canadian to end his title drought on indoor hard courts. It was Khachanov's first trophy indoors since he defeated Djokovic to capture the 2018 Rolex Paris Masters.
BNP Paribas Nordic Open, Stockholm – Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul delivered a high-quality performance to outclass Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-3 and reclaim the trophy at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm. Paul, who also won in Stockholm in 2021, did not drop a set en route to his third title of the season. He became the fourth player to win at least three tour-level titles in 2024 alongside Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Matteo Berrettini.
European Open, Antwerp – Roberto Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut rediscovered some of his best form to edge fifth seed Jiri Lehecka 7-5, 6-1 in Antwerp and clinch his 12th tour-level title. It was the Spaniard's first title since he triumphed in Kitzbühel in July 2022. Bautista Agut dropped his only set of the week in his quarter-final victory over Felix Auger Aliassime, against whom he rallied from a one-set deficit.
With his Antwerp title, the 36-year-old Bautista Agut became the second-oldest tour-level champion this season after Djokovic (37) clinched the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
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