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Lorenzo Musetti of Italy spoiled Alexander Zverev’s debut as world No. 1 on Wednesday, upsetting the top-seeded German 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters.
Zverev, who ascended to No. 1 for the first time Monday, led 5-2 in the opening-set tiebreaker before Musetti won the final five points. The Italian carried the momentum into the second set, breaking twice while finishing the match with 29 winners and eight aces.
“To simplify it, he played really good and I played really bad,” Zverev said. “I think this was not a very good match from me. I think it might be one of the worst in the last couple of months.”
The 29-year-old also pushed back against questions surrounding his rise to the top of the rankings after a season in which he won the French Open and US Open.
“I feel like I’m the only world number one in tennis history that has to explain why it’s OK for me to be world number one, which I find quite difficult, because I think I deserve to be where I am, even though I lost today,” Zverev said.
Musetti, ranked No. 24, earned his fourth victory in six career meetings with Zverev and continued his surge after winning the title in Lyon last month.
Zverev wasn’t the only prominent player sent home. Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata rallied to stun No. 10 Novak Djokovic of Serbia 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, ending the seven-time Paris champion’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Hijikata saved every break point he faced in the deciding set.
Djokovic needed to reach the semifinals to remain in contention for the ATP Finals. After dominating the opening set, he squandered opportunities in the decider as Hijikata completed the comeback.
“I should have won this match, I know,” Djokovic said. “I played well the first set and then completely lost the control of the match.”
Peru’s Ignacio Buse earned the biggest victory of his career by taking out fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4. Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry dispatched No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Frenchman Quentin Halys added another upset, saving four match points before defeating seventh-seeded Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9). Tiafoe served for the match in the third set before Halys broke back. Fellow Frenchman Luca Van Assche also produced an upset, defeating 15th-seeded Learner Tien 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain avoided the carnage, beating Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3. Alcaraz trailed 4-1 in the opening tiebreaker before sweeping the final six points, then broke late in the second set.
“It’s been a really difficult day for the top guys, but I just try not to think about it and I try to step out there, play my best and enjoy,” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz will next face Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, who eliminated France’s Ugo Humbert 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Sixth-seeded Arthur Fils of France defeated Czech qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3, 7-6 (4), hours after securing his first ATP Finals berth following Tiafoe’s defeat.
Also advancing were No. 11 Taylor Fritz, No. 12 Tommy Paul, France’s Arthur Rinderknech, lucky loser Nuno Borges of Portugal and Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
–Field Level Media
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