The German dominated the Dane in two tight sets and now awaits his opponent in the final at Bercy.
Solid. Alexander Zverev qualified for the final of the Rolex Paris Masters by dismissing the Dane Holger Rune in straight sets (6-3, 7-6). The world number 3 will face on Sunday the French Ugo Humbert or the Russian Karen Khachanov who face each other in the other semi-final.
The 26-year-old German is already assured of dislodging Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz from second place in the world on Monday and thus equaling the best ranking of his career. The runner-up place of Jannik Sinner (1st) is “a great bonus”for the German. “But at the end of the day, I’m playing a Masters 1000, a very prestigious tournament, that’s why I play” more than for the N.2 place, he confided on Friday.
The Hamburg giant, defeated in the final of the Paris Masters 1000 by Daniil Medvedev in 2020, nevertheless equals the best ranking of his career at 27, reached in June 2022. “This is my second final in Paris this year”he rejoiced on the court, a few months after the one lost at Roland-Garros in the spring against Alcaraz.
On the center court, Zverev was never really threatened by his opponent, winner of the tournament in 2022. The German barely conceded a break in the second set to let Rune return to 5 games all. Zverev, however, quickly recovered to win the tie-break 7-4.
The Dane's defeat buries his last hopes of participating in the Turin Masters (November 10-17), which will bring together the eight best players of the season.
