Lorenzo Musetti knocked out new world No. 1 Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-2, and qualifier Rinky Hijikata ended Novak Djokovic’s Paris Masters and ATP Finals hopes in three sets. Carlos Alcaraz survived a tie-break, while Arthur Fils clinched a Turin debut after Frances Tiafoe’s defeat.
Paris, France: Wednesday was the day the Paris Masters draw lost its two most decorated names. Within hours, the man who had taken over the top of the ATP rankings on Monday and a seven-time Paris champion were both heading home, and the field for the final big week of the season had been quietly rewritten.
Musetti ends Zverev’s first week at the top
Zverev, playing his first match as world No. 1, led the first-set tie-break against Lorenzo Musetti and then lost five straight points. Musetti took it 7-6(5) and carried the momentum through the second set, winning six of the next eight games on his way to a 6-2 finish. It was a measured, patient performance from the Italian, who had already beaten Hubert Hurkacz in a pair of tie-breaks in the opening round.
Zverev said afterwards that he was annoyed with the defeat and the pressure of having to justify his new ranking. He reached the summit after his win over Tallon Griekspoor in Vienna sealed the No. 1 spot, and a second-round exit in Paris is a harsh welcome to it.
Hijikata derails Djokovic’s push for Turin
Djokovic had opened the day looking in control, winning the first set 6-2 against the 83rd-ranked Hijikata. But the Australian qualifier levelled at 6-3 after breaking the Serb in the eighth game of the second set, then broke him twice in the third to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 14 minutes.
The defeat ended Djokovic’s pursuit of an eighth Paris title and extinguished his hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin. It followed his three-set win over Valentin Vacherot on Tuesday, and Djokovic said his plan now is simply to rest. Hijikata will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the last 16.
Alcaraz escapes, Fils books his ticket
Carlos Alcaraz avoided a repeat of last year’s opening-round exit in Paris, beating Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3. He trailed 4-1 in the first-set tie-break before winning six straight points, then broke in the eighth game of the second set and served out the match. Next up for the second seed is Matteo Berrettini, who beat Ugo Humbert 7-6(3), 7-5.
The biggest beneficiary of the day was Arthur Fils. Quentin Halys beat seventh seed Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(9) after a tie-break that stretched to 11-9, and that result mathematically sealed the Frenchman’s place at the ATP Finals, which run from 15 to 22 November in Turin. Fils, who won the Cincinnati Masters this year, becomes the first Frenchman at the season-ending event since Gael Monfils in 2016.
More seeds fall around the draw
Zverev and Djokovic were not alone. Ignacio Buse beat fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4, and Etcheverry took out eighth seed Alex de Minaur 7-6(2), 6-3. Luca Van Assche knocked out 15th seed Learner Tien 7-6(4), 6-4, and Jan-Lennard Struff came through a deciding tie-break against Thiago Agustin Tirante after winning his opener on Tuesday.
Taylor Fritz also survived, outlasting qualifier Alex Molcan 6-7(6), 7-5, 7-6(5). Home hope Arthur Rinderknech beat qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-4, 6-1 to set up a meeting with third seed Ben Shelton on Thursday, while Tommy Paul and Nuno Borges advanced in straight sets.
Results (Wednesday 4 November 2026, Paris Masters, second round):
Lorenzo Musetti bt Alexander Zverev (1) 7-6(5), 6-2
Rinky Hijikata (Q) bt Novak Djokovic (10) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz (2) bt Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3
Ignacio Buse bt Daniil Medvedev (4) 6-4, 6-4
Quentin Halys bt Frances Tiafoe (7) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(9)
Tomas Martin Etcheverry bt Alex de Minaur (8) 7-6(2), 6-3
Luca Van Assche bt Learner Tien (15) 7-6(4), 6-4
Matteo Berrettini bt Ugo Humbert 7-6(3), 7-5
Taylor Fritz (11) bt Alex Molcan (Q) 6-7(6), 7-5, 7-6(5)
Tommy Paul (12) bt Daniel Merida 6-1, 6-1
Nuno Borges (LL) bt Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4
Arthur Rinderknech bt Mattia Bellucci (Q) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) bt Thiago Agustin Tirante (LL) 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(3)
Thursday’s last-16 matches include: Shelton v Rinderknech, Alcaraz v Berrettini, Hijikata v Etcheverry.
