ATP Paris Masters 2024: Alexander Zverev through to semi-finals with straight-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas

Alexander Zverev reached the semi-finals of the Paris Masters with a straight sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Accor Arena.

Zverev, seeded third in the French capital, needed an hour and 44 minutes to beat Tsitsipas and close the gap on the Greek in the pair’s head-to-head record, with world number 11 Tsitsipas taking 10- was 6 ahead.

However, Zverev, who is chasing a first Paris Masters title after losing to Daniil Medvedev in the 2020 final, was the man in control here.

He got through 7-5 6-4 to book his place in the last four, where he will face 2022 champion Holger Rune.

The win made Zverev just the eighth player in history to reach 20 semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000, joining an exclusive club that includes the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

The German, currently ranked third in the world, was at his usual best from the back of the field. He smashed serves down, faced just one break point the entire match and dominated from both wings.

He earned the elusive first break of the match at 6-5 in the first, before firing a big serve wide that Tsitsipas could only stab into the net to take the first set.

An expertly crafted forehand line winner was the highlight in his second break of service at 1-1 in the second set, as he deftly steered the ball inside the tram line as Tsitsipas raced over the net to serve and volley.

Zverev brought three match points to seal the deal but needed just one as he crashed a final emphatic serve to advance to the last four.

“I thought he was at a very good level throughout the match,” Zverev said. “He started well and had some good chances to break me in the beginning, maybe not point-wise, but game-wise.

“I came into the match and found my rhythm, felt more and more comfortable and am happy with the win.

“I felt like I could hit it pretty hard today and to him, if you just push it back, he’s going to make you pay for it.

“He’s someone on the forehand who can be so aggressive and get forward. So I was happy to take that away.”

The defeat for Tsitsipas means he is out of contention for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in Turin, which start on November 10.

In the other quarterfinal, Holger Rune defeated Alex de Minaur in three sets.

The Dane won 6-4 4-6 7-5 to beat the Australian in a nail-biting match that included several long rallies, with Rune almost blowing a break advantage in the decider to reach the last four.

“He put so much against me. He made every ball with quality, deep in the field and the field is quite fast here,” Rune said.

“I had to adapt my game a little bit and it was a constant battle, but the way I handled the last few games was very good. I went for it, I got it and I’m very happy.”

“Sascha (Zverev) and I had a great match in Paris, where he won five. I beat him once, the last time he beat me. He is one of the best players this year, so I will be very should be.” well prepared and physically recovering and building on the level from this competition.”

With the win, Rune’s bid for a place in Turin remains intact, but he will likely have to win the tournament to have a chance of qualifying for the season finale.

Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov overcame a four-match losing streak against Grigor Dimitrov to beat the Bulgarian 6-2, 6-3 on Friday night.

The defeat drops Dimitrov out of Nitto ATP Finals contention. The 33-year-old initially had to beat Khachanov and then progress to the final to surpass eighth-seeded De Minaur and claim a place in Turin.

Khachanov will face local hope Humbert, who defeated Australian Jordan Thompson 6-2, 7-6 (4) a day after stunning world number 2 Alcaraz.

It is Humbert’s first Masters semi-final and the first time in seven years that a Frenchman has reached the last four in Paris.