Daniil Medvedev still seeking first ATP title of 2024 after Paris Masters exit

PARIS – Daniil Medvedev is still searching for his first ATP tournament victory of 2024 after the world No. 5 lost to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin for the first time in his career at the Paris Masters on Oct 30.

Medvedev won the Paris title in 2020 but has not found the indoor tournament to his liking in recent years – the defeat by Popyrin is the third successive time he has gone out in his opening round.

“It was a tough match,” said the 28-year-old, who lost 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) in a gripping match in Bercy.

“I should have played better but at the same time, I had my opportunities, and I did not take them. It was a very tight match.”

It was only the third win over a top-five player for world No. 24 Popyrin, who has been on a rich vein of form this year, winning his first Masters tournament in Montreal in August and beating Novak Djokovic at the US Open.

“It is the first time I have beaten him (in four meetings),” said the 25-year-old.

“We have had some right old battles in the past and it is a real pleasure to have performed like this this time around.”

Russian Medvedev, who has already qualified for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in November, fought back twice in the deciding set.

He came back from 4-1 down to force a tiebreak, and then trailing 4-1 in that, he levelled at 4-4.

However, with Popyrin leading 5-4, Medvedev double faulted, giving the Australian two match points and he wasted no time in sealing the victory on the first one.

But Popyrin lost to another Russian in the round of 16 on Oct 31, going down 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to Karen Khachanov.

Medvedev is not the first high-profile seed to fall at the first hurdle as his compatriot Andrey Rublev and Norway’s Casper Ruud have already lost.

Carlos Alcaraz remains in the mix, having won his first match on Oct 29 and is favoured to take the title, after Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to an intestinal virus.

Alcaraz faced France’s Ugo Humbert in the third round, with the result unavailable at press time. Ditto for the last-16 clash between third seed Alexander Zverev and Frenchman Arthur Fils.

Zverev had begun his campaign with a confident 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win over Tallon Griekspoor on Oct 30, hitting 19 winners, making only nine unforced errors and winning 86 per cent of his first serves in the 92-minute encounter.

“One of the fastest courts I’ve ever played on,” said the German, who became the fourth player to reach the last 16 at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events in one season. “I had to find my rhythm in the beginning but happy to come through in the end.”

A potential dark horse for the title is Bulgarian eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9-11), 6-3, 7-5.

Dimitrov still has a chance of qualifying for the ATP Finals. If he wins the Paris title, he would move past Djokovic (sixth), Ruud (seventh) and Rublev (eighth).

Only the top eight will qualify for the season-ending tournament from Nov 13 to 20 in Turin, Italy.

“I would give a lot to be in (Turin),” said Dimitrov, who reached the Paris final in 2023, and faces Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the last 16.

“I’m in a place where I am still a contender, I’m still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys.

“This gives me confidence and makes me happy.”

Britain’s Jack Draper lived to fight another day after a gripping 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-4 win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

The winner of the ATP 500 title in Vienna on Oct 27 earned a date with Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur.

It was a memorable day for the French, with a record-equalling five going through to the last 16 after Arthur Cazaux, the world No. 85, upset American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to progress with his countrymen Humbert, Fils, Rinderknech and Adrian Mannarino. AFP