In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Masters, German third seed Alexander Zverev defeated Greek tenth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 7-5, 6-4 on Friday. This victory not only showcased Zverev's exceptional skills but also ended Tsitsipas' hopes of qualifying for this year's ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
The match was tightly contested in the first set, but Zverev took control in the second, building a 5-3 lead before sealing the win in a brisk one hour and 40 minutes. Zverev's performance was highlighted by his strong serving, landing nine aces and maintaining a 71% first serve percentage.
\"I thought the whole match was a very good level from him,\" Zverev remarked. \"I got into the match and I found my rhythm, and felt more and more comfortable, and am happy with the win.\" This marks Zverev's sixth victory over Tsitsipas, further cementing his position among the top players.
With this win, Zverev joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only active players to reach 20 or more Masters 1000 semifinals, a testament to his consistency and prowess on the court.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas' defeat ends his streak of five consecutive ATP Finals appearances. The spotlight now shifts to Holger Rune, the 2022 Paris Masters champion, who overcame Australia's Alex de Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to advance to the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, French local favorite Ugo Humbert continues his impressive run by defeating Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6(4) and will face Karen Khachanov, who easily dispatched eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3.
The upcoming semifinals promise intense competition as Zverev prepares to take on Rune, while Humbert and Khachanov battle for a spot in the final. Tennis fans around the world are eagerly anticipating these matches, which could shape the landscape of the ATP Finals.
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Alexander Zverev ends Stefanos Tsitsipas' hopes of reaching ATP Finals
cgtn.com