Alexei Popyrin, ranked 24th globally, stunned former Paris champion Daniil Medvedev with a thrilling 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory in the second round of the Paris Masters.
It was Popyrin’s third win over a top five opponent and his first win against Medvedev in four meetings. Despite Medvedev’s efforts, including comebacks in both the set and tiebreak, a double fault at 4-5 handed Popyrin match points, which he swiftly converted.
Medvedev’s loss adds to the string of early exits by top seeds, with Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud also failing to advance. Carlos Alcaraz remains in the tournament and is now seen as a title favorite after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal due to illness. Alcaraz will face Ugo Humbert in the third round.
Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov, seeded eighth, kept his ATP Finals hopes alive by defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-5. Dimitrov needs a Paris victory to qualify for the ATP season finale in Turin, potentially surpassing Novak Djokovic, Ruud, and Rublev in the rankings. Only the top eight players will compete in the ATP Finals, with Turin as the final battleground.
Popyrin’s next challenge will be against the winner of the clash between France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Russia’s Karen Khachanov, as he aims to build on his remarkable season, which already includes a Masters win in Montreal and a major upset over Novak Djokovic at the US Open.
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