Tennis: Nadal not optimistic about ATP Finals chances after Paris exit

PARIS – Rafael Nadal said he does not expect to be in good enough shape to mount a serious challenge at the season-ending ATP Finals after being beaten by Tommy Paul at the Paris Masters on Wednesday.

The Spaniard was up a set and a break against the American but was unable to seal the win, eventually losing 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s defeat in Paris came in his first singles match since the US Open fourth round in September, after which he took time off for the birth of his first child.

He has never won the ATP Tour’s finale, which runs from Nov 13-20 in Turin, though he has reached the final twice.

“I’m excited about playing, even if it hasn’t been the perfect couple of months for me,” Nadal said.

“It’s true that, for the last five months, I didn’t spend enough days on the Tour. I don’t even say competing on a tennis court. I say on the Tour. Practising with the guys. That’s what I need.

“For me (it’s) difficult to imagine now arriving in the World Tour Finals in enough good shape to win a tournament that I didn’t win during all my tennis career.”

World No. 2 Nadal’s loss has boosted Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of finishing the year as world No. 1. The 19-year-old will confirm his seat at the top if he lifts the trophy in the French capital on Sunday.

Alcaraz is on course to doing just that after he swatted away Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-3 in 72 minutes to reach the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The top seed got off to a rapid start, taking nine of the first 10 games to seize total control.

Dimitrov managed to break back in the second set but Alcaraz broke again in the eighth game and wrapped up victory comfortably.

He hit 16 winners and made only six unforced errors in a dominant display, while Dimitrov saw 24 unforced errors fly off his racket.

“It was not his day, he didn’t play at his best, but I played my game,” said the US Open champion, who will take on either Holger Rune or Andrey Rublev for a last-four spot.

Also reaching the last eight is Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti, who downed third seed Casper Ruud in three sets on Thursday.

The 20-year-old, at a career-high ranking of 23rd, came from behind to beat Norwegian Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and will take on either reigning champion Novak Djokovic or Russian Karen Khachanov in his maiden Masters quarter-final.

Also in action for a spot in the quarter-finals is the in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian eighth seed, who is on a winning streak of 14 matches and hoping to win his fourth title in four weeks, faces Gilles Simon next. REUTERS, AFP