Alexander Zverev will play for a first Rolex Paris Masters title after defeating a resurgent Holger Rune in Saturday’s semifinals, 6-3, 7-6(4).
The third-seeded German was runner-up to Daniil in Paris in 2020, but will be the favorite to take home a seventh career ATP Masters 1000 crown when he faces home hope Ugo Humbert for the trophy. Humbert, the No. 15 seed, outlasted another former Paris champion, Karen Khachanov, in three sets in the second semifinal to become the first French man to reach the final in Bercy in more than a decade.
Zverev’s third win over Rune this year was notable, too, for three reasons. The one-hour and 46-minute triumph not only clinched him a 12th Masters 1000 final berth, but it assured of returning to the world No. 2 ranking on Monday, passing Carlos. It also ended Rune’s mathematical chances of qualifying for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy for the second year in a row.
