German star Alexander Zverev defeats France’s Ugo Humbert in straight sets, claiming his seventh ATP 1000 title and regaining the world number two ranking.
Alexander Zverev, Germany’s tennis sensation, claimed his first Paris Masters title with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ugo Humbert, France’s top player, on Sunday. The decisive win marked Zverev’s second ATP Masters trophy this year, following his triumph in Rome in May, and solidified his return to world number two in the ATP rankings, just behind Jannik Sinner.
In front of a packed home crowd at the Palais Omnisports in Bercy, Humbert, ranked 18th in the world, held high hopes. The 26-year-old had showcased formidable form throughout the tournament, notably stunning former world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16 to become the first French player to reach the Paris final in over a decade. Humbert’s journey was a source of pride for French fans, but Zverev’s unrelenting power proved too much on the day.
Zverev took early control of the match, breaking Humbert’s serve in the third game of the first set and establishing a 4-1 lead with minimal errors. The 27-year-old German showcased his trademark groundstrokes and powerful serve, racking up just four unforced errors to Humbert’s 17 in the opening set. He quickly closed out the first set 6-2, displaying calm precision and resilience against the Frenchman’s efforts to rally.
The second set began with Zverev breaking Humbert once more, aided by a double fault from the French player. Zverev continued to dominate with relentless baseline play, putting pressure on Humbert, who struggled to respond to Zverev’s intensity. Throughout the match, Humbert managed only five points on return, and Zverev closed out the match in just over an hour, clinching his first Paris Masters title in straight sets.
Speaking after the match, Humbert reflected on his memorable run in Paris, expressing gratitude for the support of French fans: “I came as a kid to watch matches here, and it made me want to do what I do. So, I’m very happy to have reached the final.” For Humbert, reaching his first Masters final is a significant milestone in a promising season that saw him reach four finals, with two victories to his name.
Zverev, meanwhile, celebrated his seventh ATP 1000 title and 66th victory of the year, a season-high surpassing that of world number one Jannik Sinner. His victory in Paris has set the stage for the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled from 10 to 17 November, where he will compete to win the season-ending tournament for a third time.
In the doubles category, Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Czech Adam Pavlasek fought valiantly in the final but were narrowly defeated by the sixth-seeded duo of Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic. The experienced pair came from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 10-5, marking their fifth doubles title of the season. For Glasspool and Pavlasek, the Paris Masters was their debut tournament together, a run that showcased their potential as a team.
Zverev’s impressive win at the Paris Masters has not only underscored his dominance on the ATP circuit this year but has also raised expectations for his performance at the ATP Finals, where he aims to conclude his season on a high. With his recent ascent to the number two spot, Zverev’s Paris victory signals a return to top form and positions him as a formidable contender for the ATP’s most prestigious year-end title
