In a spectacle that showcased his talents, Alexander Zverev secured his place among tennis’s elite by dismantling Ugo Humbert with a commanding scoreline of 6-2, 6-2 in the finals of the Paris Masters. The match took place on a vibrant Sunday, where Zverev, seeded third, asserted his dominance on the court. This win marks Zverev’s seventh Masters 1000 title, but more significantly, it is his first triumph in the French capital—a location that has been a historical battleground for many players.
This victory also catapulted Zverev past current world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, accumulating an impressive 66 match wins this year alone. The German’s performance was marked by an aggressive serving strategy, solid return games, and potent attacking play that left Humbert struggling to find his footing. As the crowd rallied behind the Frenchman, Zverev’s early dominance snuffed out any hopes of a local comeback, allowing him to dictate the pace and rhythm of the match from the very beginning.
For Ugo Humbert, this Masters final presented a daunting challenge, particularly given his recent upset of Carlos Alcaraz in the third round. However, facing Zverev proved to be an entirely different affair. The 15th seed’s intentions to play aggressively right from the start backfired, as he seemed unable to match Zverev’s intensity. Unforced errors marred Humbert’s game, with problems persisting as he failed to capitalize on crucial moments, including a 40-0 advantage that ultimately slipped through his fingers.
Shifting the Momentum
Zverev quickly capitalized on Humbert’s mistakes. Early in the match, he broke his serve, taking a significant lead when the Frenchman faltered with an errant forehand. This was followed by yet another break, reminiscent of Humbert’s earlier match against Alcaraz, where holding serve had proven essential. Zverev closed the opening set without conceding a single point on his serve, clinching it with a powerful ace that further demonstrated his reigning prowess on the court.
As the second set unfolded, Humbert attempted to rejuvenate his game, but it was an uphill battle. A double fault on his first serve after the break signaled a continuing decline in his performance. Soon, Zverev’s relentless assault had Humbert reeling, quickly amassing a 3-0 lead before the match became a formality. Ultimately, Zverev improved his record to 23-13 in his ATP tour finals, aligning him with the legacy of German tennis great Boris Becker as a champion of the Paris event.
In the aftermath of this victory, Zverev is poised to ascend to second in the ATP rankings, setting the stage for an impressive appearance at the ATP Finals in Turin next month, where he will undoubtedly be a formidable contender among the season’s top eight players.