Paris Masters: Alexander Zverev beats Holger Rune, sets up final against Ugo Humbert

Germany’s Alexander Zverev outserved Holger Rune in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters on Saturday to book his place in the final, where he will take on France’s Ugo Humbert. Zverev’s 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win against the Dane sent the 27-year-old to his second ATP 1000-level final of the season after his victory in Rome in May.

World number 18 Humbert, who downed world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the last 16, overcame Russian Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-3 after the 2018 Paris champion suffered a thigh injury in the final set.

There’s no place like home 🫶🏡@HumbertUgo is through to his FIRST-EVER Masters 1000 final! #RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/vKGJDD1Rn8

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2024

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“I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself but he (Rune) is a champion,” said Zverev. “It is probably his favourite tournament and favourite court, but I am happy to be in my second final here.”

Zverev previously made the Paris final in 2020 but lost in three sets to Daniil Medvedev. For 2022 champion Rune, the loss put an end to his outside hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin, which run from November 10-17.

Zverev, standing at 198cm, relied on his big first serve and the speed of the surface at Paris’ Bercy Arena to carry him through his service games. Rune, on the other hand, misfired regularly on his first serve and lacked fluency with his groundstrokes as he gave the German a 3-1 lead in the first set.

The 21-year-old then raced to 15-40 in the next game but was again let down by his backhand as he sent two shots long and an attempted pass wide as Zverev recovered to consolidate.

Alexander Zverev scripts turnaround

Despite leading 4-1, the 2024 French Open runner-up was also unconvincing from behind the baseline as the unforced errors accumulated for both players. However, Zverev could always rely on his serving to carry him through as he claimed the first set.

Alexander Zverev in BEAST MODE 💥#RolexParisMasters | @RolexPMasters | @AlexZverev pic.twitter.com/bvhAWX8Xv7

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2024

Neither Rune nor Zverev challenged on serve at the beginning of the second set, with both holding to love or 15 until the seventh game. At 3-3, Zverev pounced to take a 40-0 lead and he broke Rune with a powerful inside-out forehand that set him up to finish easily at the net.

The third seed now seemed in total control of the match and consolidated the break with a hold to love. But the resilient Rune defied expectation by suddenly breaking Zverev when the German was serving for the match.

As the pressure mounted, both responded by upping their level and winners flew off both racquets as Rune eventually held a gripping game at 5-5, which had lasted 17 minutes.

Zverev then served out comfortably to set up a tiebreak. Errors again crept into Rune’s play and Zverev got an early mini-break, which he defended to book his spot in the final.

‘Amazing’ for Humbert

In the day’s second semi-final, France’s Humbert exchanged early breaks of serve with Khachanov as both players started nervously in front of a packed partisan crowd.

The decisive moment in the set had seemed to come when the 26-year-old Frenchman played three poor shots at 4-4 to hand Khachanov the chance to serve out the opener.