Lorenzo Musetti beat Hubert Hurkacz in two tie-breaks, converting his fourth match point, to earn a second-round meeting with new world No. 1 Alexander Zverev as the Paris Masters opened. Rafael Jodar, Casper Ruud and Cameron Norrie advanced, while Denis Shapovalov retired injured.
Paris, France: Zverev did not need to hit a ball on Monday. The new world No. 1 had a first-round bye and was honoured with an on-court ceremony on Court Central, but the day belonged to the players trying to reach him, and few made the climb harder to watch than Musetti.
Musetti survives a tie-break thriller
Musetti arrived in Paris as the Lyon champion, and he needed every bit of that confidence against Hurkacz. The Italian won the first set in a tie-break, then found himself in a second-set shootout that stretched far beyond the usual seven points. Hurkacz saved three match points, and Musetti finally closed the 7-6(3), 7-6(10) win on his fourth. It took one hour and 43 minutes, and it hands the Italian a heavyweight second round against the man who has just taken over the top ranking.
Jodar and Ruud book a meeting
Ninth seed Rafael Jodar made short work of Alejandro Tabilo, winning 6-2, 6-3. Casper Ruud was even more clinical against qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Norwegian won 6-3, 6-2 in roughly an hour without facing a break point, and the result sets up a second-round clash with Jodar.
Norrie digs in, Shapovalov’s night ends early
Cameron Norrie had to work harder. He took the first set against Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, lost the second 6-1, then recovered to win the decider 6-3 in a match that swung twice. His reward is a second-round meeting with third seed Ben Shelton.
The night session opened with a worrying finish. Karen Khachanov won the first set before Denis Shapovalov took the second in a tie-break, and the Canadian led 4-1 in the decider when he stopped play with a right-leg problem. He took a medical timeout and returned limping, held serve for 4-1, then retired in the next game, sending Khachanov through to the second round. It was a cruel end for Shapovalov, who had been in command of the decider.
Qualifiers and the rest of the opening day
Qualifier Rinky Hijikata beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2. Ignacio Buse overcame Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4, and home hope Luca Van Assche beat Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5. All-Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3, qualifier Tomas Machac saw off French wildcard Kyrian Jacquet 7-6(7), 6-1, and lucky loser Sebastian Baez lost 6-4, 6-2 to Daniel Merida. Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Holger Rune are among the first-round names still to come on Tuesday.
Paris Masters first-round results, Monday 2 November: Lorenzo Musetti d. Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(3), 7-6(10); Rafael Jodar d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3; Casper Ruud d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2; Cameron Norrie d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Karen Khachanov d. Denis Shapovalov (retired); Rinky Hijikata d. Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2; Ignacio Buse d. Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4; Luca Van Assche d. Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5; Mattia Bellucci d. Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3; Tomas Machac d. Kyrian Jacquet 7-6(7), 6-1; Daniel Merida d. Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2.
