Paris Masters 2024 draw preview: Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev locked in same half, Carlos Alcaraz paired with Daniil Medvedev
The final Masters 1000 event is upon us with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz leading the pack at the Paris Masters.
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Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev (via Tennis Gazette/Tennis Majors)
The storyline now reaches the final Masters 1000 event of the season as the Paris Masters is set to begin on October 28 (Monday). With four spots still available for the Nitto ATP Finals, many players will be competing fiercely to earn the necessary points and qualify for Turin.
Two-time Grand Slam champion and World No.1 Jannik Sinner is the top seed this year. The Italian withdrew from the Round of 16 against Alex de Minaur last year to focus on the Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup. Carlos Alcaraz is also a strong contender, aiming to secure multiple Masters 1000 titles for a third consecutive season; his only Masters 1000 title this year came at Indian Wells in March.
Another major development involves defending champion Novak Djokovic, who has withdrawn from this year’s event. This marks the third Masters 1000 event out of the last four from which the Serb has withdrawn, as he focuses on extending his career and preparing for Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic is the most decorated Paris Masters champion, with seven titles to his name.
Tournament Details
- Tournament: Paris Masters
- Date: October 28-November 3
- No. of Entrants: 64 (Singles)
- Venue: AccorHotels Arena, Bercy
- Surface: Indoor Hard Court
- Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic
Top Seeds
Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz
Alexander Zverev
Novak Djokovic
Daniil Medvedev
Taylor Fritz
Andrey Rublev
Casper Ruud
Grigor Dimitrov
Alex de Minaur
Paris Masters Draw Preview
Top half: Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, the big names
Jannik Sinner recently secured the ATP Year-End No. 1 title, presented by PIF, earlier this month. He aims to add to his impressive total of seven titles this season, including three ATP Masters 1000 victories in 2024.
Sinner could face Ben Shelton in a potential sixth meeting. This matchup would be a rematch of their recent clash in Shanghai, where the Italian emerged victorious on his way to the title.
Since that victory, Sinner has not played on the ATP Tour, but he was seen in an exhibition event at the Six Kings Slam, where he ended up winning. In contrast, Shelton recently upset Andrey Rublev in Basel, reaching the semifinals at the ATP 500 event.
Holger Rune, who starts his tournament against Matteo Arnaldi, could be a Round of 16 opponent for Sinner. The Dane hopes to repeat his remarkable run to the 2022 Paris title, where he saved match points against Stanislas Wawrinka before defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
Fifth seed Taylor Fritz is in Sinner’s top quarter of the draw, which could result in a rematch of their recently contested US Open final. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev, the third seed, and sixth seed Rublev headline the second quarter.
Seeded players in the top half: (1) Jannik Sinner, (3) Alexander Zverev, (5) Taylor Fritz, (6) Andrey Rublev, (9) Alex de Minaur, (10) Stefanos Tsitsipas, (13) Holger Rune, (16) Lorenzo Musetti
Possible semifinal: Jannik Sinner beats Andrey Rublev in three sets.
Bottom half: Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev locked together
Carlos Alcaraz is the second seed in the bottom half of the draw, joined by seventh seed Casper Ruud in his quarter. Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov are also in the same section and are expected to meet in the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz aims to win multiple Masters 1000 titles for the third consecutive season. So far this year, he has secured only one Masters 1000 title, which he won at Indian Wells in March.
His journey at the Paris Masters may be challenging as he faces Nicolas Jarry first. The Czech player defeated Alcaraz the last time they met at the Argentina Open in February. Additionally, an exciting Round of 16 matchup could occur between Tommy Paul and Ruud, both of whom are vying for spots in the Nitto ATP Finals next month.
Another notable player in Alcaraz’s quarter is veteran Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman recently announced his retirement and mentioned that Roland Garros next year will be his final event. As he is in the draw on a wildcard, the Paris Masters is expected to be Gasquet’s last appearance in Paris before he retires.
On the other side of Alcaraz’s half, Medvedev could face 14th seed Frances Tiafoe in an exciting third-round match. The Russian may also meet last year’s runner-up, Dimitrov, in the quarterfinals. Medvedev could potentially have a rematch with Alcaraz, following their recent semifinal showdown at the Beijing Open. This year, the 2021 US Open champion has struggled against both Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, with his only win against them coming at Wimbledon against the World No.1 in the quarterfinals.
Seeded Players: (2) Carlos Alcaraz, (4) Daniil Medvedev, (7) Casper Ruud, (8) Grigor Dimitrov, (11) Tommy Paul, (12) Hubert Hurkacz, (14) Frances Tiafoe, (15) Ugo Humbert
Possible semifinal: Carlos Alcaraz defeats Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.
Final predictions for the Paris Masters
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the standout players of 2024. The duo has won all four Grand Slams this year and has combined for 11 ATP titles across all surfaces. However, the head-to-head rivalry this year has been one-sided, with Alcaraz defeating Sinner on all three occasions they have played.
They faced each other in Paris earlier this year at the Roland Garros semifinals, where Alcaraz defeated the World No.1 in five high-quality sets. Sinner’s only win over the Spaniard came at the recently concluded Six Kings Slam, which was an exhibition event. Given that the World No.2 has had the Italian’s number in recent matches, he is expected to send another strong message to the World No.1 before the ultimate showdown at the Nitto ATP Finals by winning his first Paris Masters title.
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Fahad Hamid
(679 Articles Published)