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.

"I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself but he is a champion. It is probably his favourite tournament and favourite court, but I am happy to be in my second final here," Zverev said. "I am looking forward to it."

No stopping the Zverev Express ?@AlexZverev advances into his 12th ATP Masters 1000 FINAL!!! #RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/luYjPH9F3m

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.

ATP Tour Win Leaders 2024

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 hit 25 winners and 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.

Did You Know?
Zverev will play for his fifth different ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday. He has won Madrid twice, Rome twice, Montreal once and Cincinnati once.

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