The Masters 1000 in Paris, the last major ladder of the circuit before the ATP finals, has exhausted the Argentines. This Tuesday, the porteño Francesco Cerundolo couldn’t with the Canadian Denis ShapovalovWho overcame him with the sets of 6-7 (2), 6-3 and 6-4 in the initial round of the indoor competition that sees the Spaniards Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal as favorites, and the Serbian Novak Djokovic, defender of the title.
Cerúndolo, from Buenos Aires, 30th in the ATP world rankings, was defeated by the Canadian Shapovalov (16), a rival never before faced, after 2 hours and 14 minutes of racing and left the race without Argentines.
The other two Argentine tennis players who took part in the tournament, Diego Schwartzman and Sebastian Baezthey were also eliminated from the opening round on Monday.
The “Piccolo” Schwartzman (24) lost to French American Maxime Cressy (34) 6-3 and 6-3, while Báez (40) fell to Russian Karen Khachanov (19) 6-1 and 6 -1.
The tournament will be played at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy in the French capital, on fast and indoor surfaces, and will award prizes of 5,415,410 euros, closing the season before the Masters which will bring together the eight best rackets of 2022 in Turin, Italy, since November 8.
Djokovic, no problem
Title holder Novak Djokovic began the road on Tuesday in search of the 39th tournament title in the Masters series, with which he would extend his record, with his right foot beating the American Massimo Cressy 7-6 (1), 6-4 in the second round in Paris.
“Difficult to deal with, especially in these conditions in which the balls fly on the pitch and he is faster than last year – recognized Djokovic -. Difficult to break.”
Having upped the trophies in Israel and Kazakhstan, Djokovic has increased his streak to 10 since losing the Laver Cup in September, and will face Karen Khachanov in the next round, who he defeated 6-3, 4-6, 6. -4 Marc-Andrea Huesler.
Casper Ruud also settled in the third round, with a win over the wildcard Richard Gasquet, 6-1, 7-6 (7), while Holger Rune saved three match points by winning 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 ( 3) on Stan Wawrinka.
Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz remain in contention to keep one of the tickets to the ATP Finals.
Rublev easily beat John Isner 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday, while Hurkacz beat Adrian Mannarino, who had just arrived, in the first round 7-6 (5), 6-4. guest.
“From the baseline I felt confident, ” Rublev said.” While I was returning the ball or the ball was in play, I felt like I was always ahead, I didn’t even feel nervous. “
The Russian is practically last on Fritz and Hurkacz.
Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic have already qualified for the eight-player tournament, which will close the calendar.
In the duels in the first round, Pablo Carreño Busta (14) also defeated Albert Ramos Viñolas 6-3, 6-3; while Corentin Moutet, fresh from qualifying, surprised Borna Coric 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Daniel Evans defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Jack Draper eliminated Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4; the lucky loser Fabio Fognini beat Arthur Fils 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-2; and Toommy Paul eliminated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.
Tommy Paul defeated Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-4, 6-4, and will face Nadal. Grigor Dimitrov prevailed 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) over Botic van de Zandschulp.
Source: Clarin
