Jannik Sinner Assesses Court Conditions of New Paris Court After Carlos Alcaraz’s Shocking Exit

Jannik Sinner has a chance to clinch the World No.1 ranking after Carlos Alcaraz's exit.

Jannik Sinner Assesses Court Conditions of New Paris Court After Carlos Alcaraz’s Shocking Exit

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image vIa X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

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The Paris Masters has kicked off with plenty of excitement and controversy. Much of the discussion this year has centered on the new court conditions, which players say feel noticeably different from past editions.

The debate gained even more attention after top seed Carlos Alcaraz’s shocking first-round loss. Jannik Sinner, who defeated Zizou Bergs in his opener, commented that the first shot now plays a bigger role and that the bounce is lower than usual, making rallies harder to control. Sinner said in his post-match interview:

I didn’t play last year. I usually never played well here. For me it’s very difficult to compare with the court since 2 years.. not even last year. So it’s very difficult. It is a very unique court. With new balls the ball still goes quite fast. It’s not as bouncy.. but then after the ball is quite big and slow. It changes a bit also the timing of the ball. Today wasn’t a lot of rhythm so I can’t tell you much more of that. But from my side I was returning very well. First shots on every surface are very important. Today I did that very well. I can maybe give you more feedback tomorrow.

Talk about court speed has also picked up momentum across the ATP Tour. Some players and analysts believe the surface speeds are being adjusted to favor the styles of Alcaraz and Sinner.

This ongoing discussion began when Roger Federer mentioned the issue at the Laver Cup, and Alexander Zverev continued it in Shanghai. However, Shanghai’s courts turned out to be very slow, and the unpredictable conditions led to several withdrawals and upsets, with Alcaraz skipping the event and Sinner suffering a hamstring injury.

Jannik Sinner boosts World No.1 bid in Paris

World No.2 Jannik Sinner carried his winning momentum from Vienna into Paris with another strong display. Just four days after lifting the ATP 500 trophy, the world No. 2 began his Rolex Paris Masters campaign by defeating Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-2. The Italian controlled the match from start to finish, extending his unbeaten run on indoor hard courts to 22 matches.

Jannik Sinner (5)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

At the La Défense Arena, Sinner immediately showed his intent. He broke Bergs’ serve in a long opening game that lasted 12 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Although Bergs tried to fight back, Sinner’s precision and power left him with few chances to recover.

The 22-year-old Italian was nearly flawless on serve, never facing a break point throughout the contest. According to ATP statistics, he won 77 percent of points behind his first serve and stayed calm under pressure. With the win, Sinner advanced to the third round, where he will meet Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.

This victory also keeps Sinner in the hunt for the No. 1 world ranking after Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit. If he captures the Paris Masters title, he could reclaim the top spot next week. His impressive run indoors continues to highlight his growing confidence and dominance late in the season.

Carlos Alcaraz endures shocking Paris exit

Cameron Norrie produced one of the biggest surprises of the Paris Masters on Tuesday. The Brit battled past top seed Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court, ending the Spaniard’s run in the French capital earlier than expected.

Carlos Alcaraz (4)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

Alcaraz, a two-time Grand Slam champion, arrived in Paris with strong momentum after recent titles at the US Open, Cincinnati Open, and Japan Open. But from the start, he struggled to find his usual rhythm against Norrie’s steady play and consistency.

The world No. 1 committed 54 unforced errors and was seen showing frustration toward his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, during the match. Afterward, Alcaraz admitted he felt out of sync and unable to execute his usual aggressive style.

Despite the loss, the Spaniard will have another chance to finish the season on a high. He is scheduled to compete at the ATP Finals next month before leading Spain in the Davis Cup Finals.

Also Read: John Isner Questions Reason Behind Holding Saudi Arabia Masters 1000 After Australian Open: “Why Would Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Play?”