Like every year, the Masters 1000 at Bercy, the final draw of which begins Monday October 28, is the last major stage, often crucial, to secure a place for the Masters, the Masters tournament which brings together the eight best players of the season, in Turin (from November 10 to 17). But this 2024 season is much more special, since it will be the last to be played in this room at the Accor Arena. A final opportunity to put your name on the list.
Novak Djokovic alone absent from the Top 15
Winner in 2023 of his seventh title at the Rolex Paris Masters, Novak Djokovic announced his withdrawal from the tournament on October 23, without specifying the reason. The record holder for success in this tournament is the only member of the Top 15 in the ATP rankings not to be present this week in Paris. This shows that the field this week is very tough, and this absence adds additional suspense, whether for the tournament or for the race to the Masters.
Last four places to qualify for the Turin Masters
As is often the case, Bercy is almost the last place (with the ATP 250 tournaments in Belgrade and Metz starting on November 3) to earn your place for the famous Masters. Four players have already qualified: Jannik Sinner, world No. 1 and leader of the “Race to Turin” rankings, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev. There are therefore four tickets left to collect this week in Paris, knowing that the winner earns 1,000 points, the finalist 600, the semi-finalists 360, the quarter-finalists 180, the 8th finalist 90…
Fifth in the Race, the American Taylor Fritz is the best placed (he has 4,290 points). Behind him, Novak Djokovic (3,910 points) decided to skip a tournament that he has won seven times. The Serbian is taking a risk since five players potentially have the ability to overtake him in the event of good performances: Casper Ruud (3,845 points), Andrey Rublev (3,720 points), Alex de Minaur (3,555 points), Grigor Dimitrov (3 150 points) and Tommy Paul (3,135 points). Stefanos Tsitsipas (2,975 points), Holger Rune (2,675 points) need an achievement to go to Italy.
Son and Mpetshi Perricard for a first, Gasquet's 17th and last Bercy
There are eight French people present in the final table. Respectively winners of the ATP 500 tournaments in Tokyo and Basel, Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard are the two French people in form at the end of the season. But the two men will take their first steps in the final table. The first inherited in the first round a former Grand Slam winner, Marin Cilic, while the second, holder of an invitation, will challenge Frances Tiafoe, who retains a very small chance of qualifying for the Turin Masters.
On the other hand, at 38 years old, Richard Gasquet (133rd in the world), who announced the end of his career after the next Roland-Garros 2025 tournament, will play his 17th and last Bercy. “It’s not my last tournament, but already, it’s a page that is turning”he admitted. He has a big challenge against the Italian Flavio Cobolli (32nd in the ATP), just like Arthur Rinderknech (60th) against the Czech Machac (25th), Corentin Moutet (70th) against the American Shelton (19th), Quentin Halys (90th) against the Argentinian Cerundolo (29th) and Adrian Mannarino (58th) against the American Paul (12th). The only French seed, Ugo Humbert (18th), finalist in Tokyo, has a card to play against the American Nakashima (35th in the world) in the first round (live on France.tv). But he could find Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16.
The last one at Bercy
Since 1986, Tennis has taken up residence in Bercy at the end of the season. The Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy (POPB) has gone through the years and crowned legendary players (Djokovic, Federer, Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Agassi, Safin, Murray, Tsonga) but never Rafael Nadal, who only reached there 'once the final. The 39th edition of its tournament is the last in these places, since the French Tennis Federation decided, in January 2024, to set its sights, from 2025, on the most recent Paris-La Défense Arena, which hosted the summer last the swimming events of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Bercy will therefore turn its tennis page, made up of moments of glory but also of controversies (noisy and undisciplined spectators, withdrawals of many players to better prepare for other events, etc.) which have also built the history of the tournament.
Broadcast on France Télévisions
Every day from Monday to Friday, France Télévisions broadcasts live a Masters 1000 match from Bercy, on the france.tv platform. On Saturday, the best semi-final will also be broadcast on this platform, while the tournament final will be broadcast on France 3 on Sunday November 3, from 2:45 p.m.
