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Holger Rune’s impressive form at the Swiss Indoors Basel showed no signs of slowing down on Friday.

The 21-year-old booked his spot in a third consecutive semi-final in Basel after defeating lucky loser David Goffin 6-2, 6-4. Rune was relentless throughout his 80-minute victory, during which he carved out 11 break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Dazzling into the semis ?@holgerrune2003 has his eyes on the prize in Basel, the No. 4 seed dismisses Goffin 6-2 6-4!#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/A6BHhTAaNz

Rune, who is yet to drop a set this week, is into his 20th tour-level semi-final. With his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head win over Goffin, Rune became the fourth man to reach more than seven ATP Tour semi-finals in 2024.

After improving to a 10-2 record in Basel, Rune is  up to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 1,045 points adrift of eighth-placed Andrey Rublev.

The Rolex Paris Masters draw did no favours for top seed Jannik Sinner, who could open his campaign against the surging Ben Shelton before meeting 2022 champ Holger Rune. The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings would face Shelton if the Basel semi-finalist survives a brutal opener against Felix Auger-Aliassime, with the 13th-seeded Rune a potential opponent in the last 16.

Having clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours earlier this month, Sinner will bid to add to his tour-leading seven titles and his three ATP Masters 1000 crowns in 2024. A potential sixth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Shelton would be a rematch of their Shanghai showdown two weeks ago, which Sinner won en route to the title. Sinner has not competed on the ATP Tour since then, while Shelton upset Andrey Rublev Friday in Basel to reach the semis at the ATP 500.

Rune, who opens against Matteo Arnaldi, could await Sinner beyond that. The Dane seeks to repeat his breakthrough run to the 2022 Paris title, when he saved match points against Stan Wawrinka in the opening round before knocking off five Top 10 opponents in succession. A fearless Rune won a three-set final that year against Novak Djokovic, who won his seventh Paris title in 2023 but withdrew from this year's event.

Fifth seed Taylor Fritz is also in Sinner's top quarter, while third seed Alexander Zverev and sixth seed Rublev headline the second quarter. Carlos Alcaraz anchors the bottom half of the draw as the second seed, joined by seventh seed Casper Ruud in his quarter, while fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov are seeded to meet in the quarter-finals of their section.

We move onto @RolexPMasters ?

Take a look at this year’s ATP Masters 1000 winners and the ? #Insight that powered their success ?

Who’s your pick for the next title, and which #Insight will be the game-changer this time❓?#TennisInsights | @atptour | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/8FZ6kuI008

Lorenzo Musetti battled back from the brink of defeat to book his spot in the semi-finals at the Erste Bank Open.

In an absorbing clash with top seed Alexander Zverev, the Italian dug deep to prevail 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 after two hours, 36 minutes. Musetti produced some of his most scintillating tennis to rally from 0/3 in the second-set tie-break, before pulling to a commanding lead in the decider.

“It didn’t start how we planned, I was struggling to find the right balance with my forehand and the variation of my backhand,” said Musetti, who moved to 2-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. “But I stayed there, even when he came back in the second, I saved a lot of break points at 5-5. It’s definitely a match that means a lot to me.

“It’s a pretty big win [in my career], because Sascha really loves to play here, on this court, in these conditions. But, after the first round, I was feeling in good shape and today I showed that.”

?????? ???? ?@Lorenzo1Musetti upsets the No. 1⃣ seed in Vienna to reach the SFs ?#ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/rIjJpVNxVf

Ben Shelton’s ‘towel swing’ is the latest addition to his arsenal of powerful weapons.

The left-handed American boasts one of the most lethal serves in the sport, and he put that overhead strength to good use Friday at the beginning of his Swiss Indoors Basel quarter-final with Andrey Rublev.

As a lingering haze from the smoke machine – used to add dramatic effect to player walk-ons – failed to clear from above the court, Shelton took matters into his own hands ahead of his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with the World No. 7.

"What do you think if we started waving the towels like this," Shelton asked chair umpire Arnaud Gabas with a smile.

To the delight of fans, Shelton took his towel and began fanning the smoke in a double-handed overhead motion, drawing an ear-to-ear grin from Rublev and generous applause from fans, including Roger Federer’s parents Robert and Lynette, who were in attendance.

Arthur Fils on Friday earned more than a quarter-final victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Swiss Indoors Basel. The Frenchman also guaranteed that he will top the 2024 ATP 500 Bonus Pool.

The ATP 500 Bonus Pool this year distributes $1,340,000 to the five players with the most points earned at the ATP 500 category in 2024. By winning it, Fils will earn an additional $615,000.

Fils now has 1,400 points in the category for the season, leading second-placed Jannik Sinner, who has 1,330. Alex de Minaur, currently competing in Vienna, can pass Sinner. However, no player will be able to catch Fils.

The 20-year-old has won two ATP 500 titles this year, in Hamburg and Tokyo. In addition to his semi-final showing this week in Basel, Fils made the quarter-finals in Barcelona and Halle.

Casper Ruud currently holds the fifth spot for the Bonus Pool with 830 points. The players who still have an opportunity to finish in the Top 5 are Holger Rune (Basel), Alexander Zverev (Vienna), Andrey Rublev (Basel), Jack Draper (Vienna), Ben Shelton (Basel) and Lorenzo Musetti (Vienna).

Arthur Fils was in no mood to let slip his red-hot run at ATP 500 events on Friday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

The #NextGenATP star produced a steely performance to defeat third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 6-3 and advance to the last four in Basel. Fils has now won 13 consecutive matches at this level, underpinned by title runs in Hamburg and Tokyo this year. With the triumph, the 20-year-old improved to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. 

“I think I served pretty well,” said Fils, who won 88 per cent (29/33) of points behind his first delivery and did not face a break point, according to Infosys ATP Stats. “I was very focused. I missed a crazy set point, but I am very happy with how I dealt with the tie-break and I think I played pretty good in the second set as well.

“I found a way to refocus [after missing the first two set points], and I think I did that pretty well, so I am happy.”

HE'S A BIIIIIG PROBLEM ?@ArthurFils1 punches his ticket into his 9th ATP Tour semi-final! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/JvmW6Zaole

Holger Rune continued his impressive run of form at the Swiss Indoors Basel Thursday with a statement victory against Dominic Stricker.

The fourth seed surged past the Swiss wild card 6-3, 7-6(2) in one hour, 27 minutes. Rune, who reached the final in 2022, bounced back from a break deficit in the second set to cruise to a lead he would not relinquish in the tie-break.

“It was a good level from my side in the first set, but I lost a little bit of focus in the second when he broke me,” said Rune, who improved to 9-2 in Basel. “He was playing pretty fast, rushing me, so I had to up my footwork and be more active with my legs.

“I just had to stay in there and find a solution, and I did. I connected with some returns, managed to get the break back and everything was open.”

40th win of the season ?@holgerrune2003 sees off home hope Stricker 6-3 7-6(2) and will now face Goffin for a place in the last four! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/tbiJy4e2hK

When Ozan Baris changed his name, it may not have seemed like a drastic switch on paper, but for the 20-year-old, it launched a new legacy.

Born as Ozan Colak, the American changed his name to solely his first and middle name. 'Ozan’ means ‘poet’ in Turkish while ‘Baris’ translates to ‘peace’.

“Colak means ‘crippled arm’ so I was like, ‘This is kind of bad juju’ to have ‘crippled arm’ in my name,” Baris told ATPTour.com at this week’s MarketBeat Open, an ATP Challenger Tour 75 event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

“I was like, ‘I’ll create a new legacy behind my name and create my family and hopefully the Baris name will keep going on for however long it does’. I just wanted to create my own story.”

The 20-year-old is already creating quite a legacy as the No. 1 college player in the ITA singles rankings, the first player in Michigan State University programme history to reach that position.

Could Alex de Minaur be igniting a late charge to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals? 

The Australian advanced to the quarter-finals at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna after Flavio Cobolli was forced to retire trailing 7-6(2), 3-1. The Italian had clawed back a break of serve in the 10th game, but was unable to battle through a shoulder injury.

“I felt a little bit more comfortable in the way I was playing and moving, I think all round it was a very good level,” said de Minaur, who improved to 43-14 on the season. “Obviously, I don't want to finish the match like that by any means.

“I’m wishing Flavio a speedy recovery. He’s a hell of a player, a hell of a talent, and I am sure that all of the tennis world wants to see him back on court very soon.”

Cobolli is forced to retire due to injury ?

De Minaur is into the quarter-finals in Vienna 7-6(2), 3-1.#ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/9yfoS7MlXk

Tomas Machac handed Grigor Dimitrov a major setback in his quest to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals on Thursday at the Erste Bank Open.

The Czech held his nerve to prevail 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, in an absorbing second-round clash in Vienna. Dimitrov appeared to be mounting a gutsy comeback at the beginning of the deciding set, but Machac found a burst of energy to cross the line in two hours, 29 minutes.

“It was a great match and I am really happy that I could play against him, because I was watching him a lot on the TV when I was young,” said Machac, who triumphed in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

“I am really happy with my performance and I think that both players [played well].”

In the ZONE ??

Machac completes the turnaround against Dimitrov to advance to the final 8 in Vienna ?#ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen
| ? e|motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer pic.twitter.com/42RnioFZPp

One of the most historic runs on the ATP Challenger Tour led Murphy Cassone to do an in-depth study. Now, those countless hours of watching film are paying off.

Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor went on the longest match-win streak in Challenger history in 2021, when he claimed 25 consecutive victories and five titles from September through November. Griekspoor, now No. 35 in the PIF ATP Rankings, finished that season with eight Challenger trophies, marking another record.

Cassone was then a freshman at Arizona State University and if he was not studying for school, he was glued to Challenger TV.

“I think I watched every match. I was like, ‘What is this guy doing differently that he is able to just blow through this level?'" Cassone told ATPTour.com at this week’s Marketbeat Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “My game just naturally shifted to how he plays a little bit, just from watching so much of him. I think that really helped me a lot. He’s the only guy that I would say that I watched and spent a lot of time looking at.

“I would go to the courts at like 6:30 a.m., do school, turn on his match and watch a little bit of it.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas seized the moment on Thursday to advance to his third quarter-final at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

In a nervy encounter, the third seed withstood the test posed by qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp to prevail 7-6(3), 7-5. Tsitsipas’ attacking prowess was on full display throughout the match, during which he won 76 per cent (16/21) of net points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“I had to stay calm in those tight moments, and it worked out pretty well,” said Tsitsipas, who improved to 7-2 in Basel. “There were a lot of tense moments in my last two matches, so I am trying to build up on that confidence, getting to play those pressure points the best I can.

“It became critical in a lot of moments. Despite winning the first set, he wasn’t really backing down, he wasn’t giving me the space I was looking for. I would say the second set was even more challenging and tough to play than the first one. [It was] an incredible game by myself at 5-5 [in the second set], I managed those points with some great athleticism and defended well.”

Stef is rising to the occasion ?

Make that a third Basel quarter-final for @steftsitsipas!#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/ox91KYpJpE

Doubles legends Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame next year, the organisation announced Thursday. They will join Maria Sharapova in the Class of 2025.

“It’s been a great ride, the career, doing it together,” Bob said in a virtual call with former WTA star Kim Clijsters, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

“There were a lot of people that were involved in our career,” Mike added. “Obviously our parents, who made tennis fun for us, supported us along the way with unconditional love and support.”

The American twins redefined success with their storied careers, combining for 119 tour-level titles and 1,109 match wins. They spent 438 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Teams Rankings, won 16 Grand Slam titles, went 15 consecutive years making a Grand Slam final and made an astonishing 178 tour-level finals.

The brothers proudly represented the United States, helping their country to Davis Cup glory in 2007 and claiming the men’s doubles gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012. 

Jakub Mensik’s breakout year on the ATP Tour is showing no signs of slowing down as we approach the season finale.

The #NextGenATP star surged to a 6-3, 7-6(7) triumph against Miomir Kecmanovic on Thursday to book his spot in the last eight at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, his fifth tour-level quarter-final of the year. Mensik was clinical on serve throughout the match, during which he won 86 per cent (48/56) of points behind his first delivery and saved all four of the break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Qualifying ? QFs@mensik_jakub_ with another strong performance to continue his winning streak in Vienna! #ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/QgeBRvfLR3

With the one hour and 53-minute victory, the 19-year-old is up to third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, trailing second-placed Alex Michelsen by just 25 points. After a stellar season that has seen him climb inside the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Mensik is in strong contention to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December.

Mensik’s ability to combine his athleticism with craft at the net has been pivotal to his ascent through the ranks. It was on full display against Kecmanovic, underpinned by a sumptuous half-volley pickup to move ahead in the second set tie-break.

At the 2005 Rolex Paris Masters, unseeded Tomas Berdych became the lowest-ranked champion in tournament history by beating Ivan Ljubicic in a five-set final. The Czech, No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings at the time, started a 21st-century trend of surprise champions at the ATP Masters 1000 in the French capital, with trophy runs for unseeded stars like David Nalbandian, Karen Khachanov and Holger Rune — plus the 16th-seeded Jack Sock — following Berdych's triumph.

Since 2005, only one man has won multiple titles at the prestigious Paris event: Novak Djokovic, who claimed the first of his seven in 2009. Roger Federer (2011) and Andy Murray (2016) have also reigned at a tournament that has crowned superstars and rising stars as champions in equal measure. With the Serbian out of this year's event and Federer and Murray now retired, the stage could be ripe for another dark horse to finish first.

Ahead of the latest edition of the Paris tournament, ATPTour.com looks back at the unexpected titlists who could inspire a new surprise champion in 2024.

Tomas Bedych, 2005
A 20-year-old Berdych won his one and only ATP Masters 1000 title with a five-set victory against Ljubicic in the 2005 final on indoor carpet. The Czech beat five seeded players en route to the title, including Guillermo Coria, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Gaston Gaudio and countryman Radek Stepanek, before his 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4 triumph against Ljubicic.

Berdych had previously beaten Federer at the 2004 Olympics, but even he was shocked by his success in Paris, where he remains the lowest-ranked champ in tournament history.

For years, Kyle Edmund awoke with a clear purpose: tennis. It was the Briton’s childhood passion, the heartbeat of his daily routine and the force behind every decision.

But then, a left knee injury hindered Edmund while in the form of his life and his rhythm was shattered. Days once defined by sweat and strategy turned into a tedious grind of rehab, leaving a void in the 29-year-old.

“Then, without playing tennis, it’s kind of like what am I waking up for?” Edmund told ATPTour.com at this week’s MarketBeat Open, an ATP Challenger Tour event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “I’m literally just waking up to do some rehab.”

Edmund has tasted some of the highest highs a professional tennis player can experience. He ascended to career-best No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings in October 2018 amidst an eight-month span in the Top 20. That was the same year he reached the Australian Open semi-finals and won his first of two tour-level titles.

But the past four years have been a far different story. Edmund underwent his first of three surgeries on his left knee in November 2020. The second surgery — which was the largest procedure of the three — came in March 2021 and the final operation was in May 2022.

Stan Wawrinka found a fitting time to register his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head win over Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

To the delight of the home crowd, Wawrinka held his nerve to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory and become the oldest match-winner in tournament history. After reaching his first semi-final since July 2023 in Stockholm last week, the 39-year-old was able to maintain his strong indoor form to fend off Mannarino, the No. 57 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

“I always lost close matches [against Mannarino], but this was the first one I played at home, so I think it’s thanks to you [the crowd] that I won today,” said Wawrinka, who had lost each of their previous three meetings. “Today I was able to be more patient with myself and stay aggressive when I needed to be. These difficult wins in the opening rounds are the ones that make me the most happy.

“It’s a pleasure to come to Basel each year, it’s one of the reasons why I aim to keep going, so I want to thank the tournament for the invitation, for the chance to play in the main draw.”

STAN AND DELIVER ✨??

To the delight of his home crowd, @stanwawrinka defeats Mannarino for the first time 6-3 3-6 7-5 and sets up a fascinating second round clash against Shelton! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/z5tmJXMFCN

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Rolex Paris Masters, he announced on social media Wednesday.

"Unfortunately I won't be playing @rolexparismasters this year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me play there," Djokovic wrote in an Instagram Story. "Wishing all the players, sponsors, organisers and fans a great tournament. 

"I have a lot of great memories winning seven titles there and hope to be back with you next year."

Djokovic has won seven of his record 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles at Paris-Bercy. He has tallied a 50-9 record at the tournament, winning 18 of his past 19 matches there.

The 37-year-old owns a 37-9 record this season, including a run to the Paris Olympics gold medal. He currently sits sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

Alexander Zverev notched a comfortable win to break new ground on Wednesday evening at the Erste Bank Open.

The top seed at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna overcame Marcos Giron 6-2, 7-5 to seal a quarter-final spot. Zverev sent down 10 aces and converted all three break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to securing his 61st win of 2024. That tally represents a season-best for the German.

“I thought he was serving unbelievable in the second set,” said Zverev, when asked how tough Giron made it to close out victory. “I was feeling really good from the baseline, but I was not getting many chances to play from the baseline because he was serving so well.

“Obviously I’m extremely happy to get it done in straight sets. When it goes to a tie-break, it’s never guaranteed that you’re going to win it, especially against someone like him who plays fantastic tennis. I’m happy to be through to the quarter-finals.”

Simply unplayable ?@AlexZverev with a personal best 61st win in a season, taking out Giron 6-2 7-5 to make the quarters in Vienna #ErsteBankOpen | @ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/Z1BcKgvXaN