In a surprising turn of events at the Rolex Paris Masters, both Lorenzo Musetti and Casper Ruud were eliminated in the Round of 32 on Wednesday. Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego defeated Musetti, the tournament’s No. 7 seed, with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Meanwhile, Germany’s Daniel Altmaier upset Norway’s No. 8 seed Ruud, winning 6-3, 7-5.
Sonego’s performance was marked by his ability to convert 4 of 5 break-point opportunities while successfully defending against 3 of 4 break points. Altmaier’s match featured 10 aces and an impressive 4 of 5 break points saved. The unexpected exits of Musetti and Ruud follow the earlier upset of world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who was defeated by Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie on Tuesday.
The outcomes have opened a pathway for Italy’s No. 2 seed, Jannik Sinner, to reclaim the top spot in the ATP rankings. Sinner, who enjoyed a first-round bye, began his campaign strongly by defeating Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-4, 6-2. He won 24 of 31 first-service points, achieving a success rate of 77.4%, despite not recording an ace. Sinner expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It’s a very unique court here. Usually I always struggled a bit, so I’m very happy to come through the first match.”
Notable Matches and Performances
The day’s action also featured No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, who narrowly overcame Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli after dropping the first set. Zverev won the match 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-5, demonstrating resilience as he fought back from a 40-15 deficit in the final set. He acknowledged Carabelli’s improved performance compared to their previous encounter, saying, “That’s a mistake from me. I have to prepare better for my opponents, but he was fantastic today.”
Australia’s No. 6 seed Alex de Minaur also faced a challenging match, ultimately defeating Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-3. In another lengthy encounter, No. 9 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime triumphed over France’s Alexandre Muller after three hours and four minutes, winning 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).
Other notable victories included No. 10 seed Karen Khachanov, No. 13 seed Alexander Bublik, No. 15 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Francisco Cerundolo, and Valentin Vacherot. Additionally, No. 11 seed Daniil Medvedev advanced to the next round after receiving a walkover when Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
As the tournament progresses, the absence of Musetti, Ruud, and Alcaraz reshapes the competitive landscape, creating opportunities for emerging talents like Sinner and seasoned players like Zverev. The quest for the title at this prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event continues, with intense matches expected in the upcoming rounds.
