What a pity. That's a bit of the feeling that was there yesterday, Sunday November 3, at the end of the last Rolex Paris Masters at Bercy, before the move in 2025 to the Paris La Défense Arena. Throughout the week, Ugo Humbert made French supporters dream. Unfortunately, the tournament ended in trouble for Messin, with a spanking suffered in the final against Alexander Zverev (6-2 6-2 in 1h15). We will nevertheless remember the magnificent performance of the now 14th in the world. The sequence of Alcaraz, Thompson and Khachanov clearly took us back to our memories of 2001, 2008, 2009 or 2010 with Sébastien Grosjean, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gaël Monfils (twice finalist) who each made this electric speaker vibrate. Bercy.
We're not going to cry either. The tournament doesn't stop, it just changes creameries. So let's leave the past behind and focus on the present. So head to the Moselle Open and its XXL table. We could say that, due to its place in the calendar, in the final week of the regular season, the ATP 250 in Metz could suffer from low attendance with players worn and tired by a long and trying year. Except that, of course, the regular season is reaching its end, but the ATP Finals, the final phase of professional tennis, are still to come.
A chip shop closed for administrative reasons
There will be eight, as always, to participate in this tournament reserved for the crème de la crème of tennis. The real “kings” for once. Qualified, not for their market value, but for what they have managed to do over the last ten months.
But now, the world rankings have still not delivered their verdict, even though we are only seven days away from a tournament that is as spectacular as it is historic. At the moment, the players who have already purchased their plane ticket to Turin are Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz. There are therefore three places left to take. It's a lot, especially when we see that between sixth, Novak Djokovic, and Grigor Dimitrov, tenth, there are only 570 points.
You will say to me: “Why all this fuss? » And I will answer you: “Novak Djokovic. » Nole did not win a Grand Slam this year, which would have meant qualification for Turin. If he wishes to go there, he will have to qualify as a regular. But we are entitled to ask ourselves questions as to the real motivation of the GOAT in wanting to go to Piedmont, when we know that he was the title holder in Paris, therefore had 1000 points to defend there and yet took the decision not to go there. A decision which, in fact, made him lose 1000 precious points to be able to enjoy a delicious dish of pesto pasta (and not carbonara, vegetarianism requires) as only Italians know how to do.
Little flashback. Novak Djokovic has just won Olympic gold. To the question “What is left to gain?” », the Serb replied “Not much”, with a smirk. Suffice to say that the idea of packing his bags again to compete in the Masters, which he has won seven times, heats him up like a chip shop closed for administrative reasons. This hypothesis of non-participation of Novak Djokovic, even with a sufficient number of points, opens prospects for the ninth and tenth which are Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov.
The race for the ATP Finals goes into overtime
Which brings us back to the Moselle Open and its 250 points, more precious than ever. On the starting line, we find, as if by chance, Andrey Rublev, Grigor Dimitrov and Casper Ruud. Surprising not to see Alex de Minaur there? No way. The Australian, who is best placed for 7th or 8th place, is in Belgrade to compete in the other 250, where the level is therefore lower. Not stupid.
Here is concretely what the best placed, that is to say Ruud, De Minaur and Rublev, must do:
Casper Ruud will be in Turin if he reaches the last four.
Alex de Minaur will be in Turin if he wins the tournament in Belgrade or if he does as well as Rublev.
Andrey Rublev will be in Turin if he pockets 26 more points than De Minaur.
To finish with this magnificent Metz plateau, we must add players of the caliber of Sonego and Norrie. Without forgetting the fine line-up of Frenchmen, despite the withdrawal of the hero of the moment, what's more local glory, Ugo Humbert, who withdrew as he had suggested yesterday after his Paris final. Without doubt a heartbreak for Messin who was also the title holder. His package benefits Titouan Droguet who therefore joins, in the French clan, Grégoire Barrère, Benjamin Bonzi, Quentin Halys, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Adrian Mannarino, Richard Gasquet, Hugo Gaston, Manuel Guinard, Corentin Moutet, Harold Mayot and Théo Papamalamis.
Everyone in Metz for a tournament which promises to be as exciting as it is spectacular, with the matches within the match and this race to the ATP Finals which is going into overtime.
