PARIS — In an intense opening match at the Paris Masters on Monday, local player Hugo Humbert had to put forth considerable effort to secure a victory against Brandon Nakashima of the United States.
Seeded 15th at this final Masters 1000 event of the tennis season, Humbert triumphed over Nakashima, who is ranked 35th, with a scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after more than two hours of competitive play.

During the deciding set, Humbert demonstrated resilience by saving two break points, maintaining his unbeaten record against Nakashima, which now stands at 3-0. The Frenchman’s next challenge will come from another American, Marcos Giron, who advanced after defeating Shang Juncheng in two tight sets, both ending 7-6 (6).

In addition to Humbert, Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor also progressed, winning his match against Luciano Darderi with a score of 6-3, 6-4. Griekspoor is set to face third-seeded Alexander Zverev in the next round. Meanwhile, Tomas Martin Etcheverry from Argentina claimed victory over Zhang Zhizhen with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6 (6), and will be up against Grigor Dimitrov in his subsequent match.

Other players making it through Monday’s matches included Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina, French player Arthur Rinderknech, and Jordan Thompson from Australia.

Notably, reigning champion Novak Djokovic is not participating in this year’s tournament. Jannik Sinner has taken over the top seed position in Paris and is assured of finishing the year as the top player in the ATP rankings. The tournament holds significant implications, with spots for the ATP Finals on the line. Sinner, along with Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev, has already secured his place in this season-ending event, scheduled for November 10-17.