PARIS — In a challenging match during the Paris Masters, sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev faced a significant setback in his quest to qualify for the ATP Finals. During his second-round showdown against Francisco Cerundolo, Rublev lost two closely contested tiebreakers, ending the match at 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) after more than two hours of play. The Russian experienced intense frustration, notably demonstrating his displeasure by smashing his racket against his left knee multiple times, resulting in visible bleeding as shown in footage from the match.

Rublev’s defeat places his position in the race for the season-ending ATP Finals in jeopardy, as he currently occupies the eighth and final qualifying spot. He now risks being overtaken by other competitors throughout the week. In contrast, the ATP announced that Taylor Fritz has successfully secured his spot, marking the fifth player to qualify for the finals. This achievement allows Fritz to return to the prestigious event for the second time in three years, which will take place from November 10-17 in Turin, Italy.

Joining Fritz in the lineup are prominent players Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev. Sinner had to withdraw from the Paris Masters earlier this week due to illness, ensuring his standing as the year-end No. 1 player. His exit follows that of Novak Djokovic, a seven-time champion, who also pulled out of the event.

On a positive note for the home crowd, French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard showcased his powerful serve, hitting an impressive 28 aces as he triumphed over Frances Tiafoe with a score of 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-3. Fresh off a tournament win in Basel, Mpetshi Perricard faced struggles with 13 double-faults yet managed to maintain his serve against the 14th-seeded American. His successful conversion of a single break point secured his first-ever win at a Masters 1000 tournament.

Mpetshi Perricard, who began the year at a ranking of 200, achieved a personal milestone by reaching a career-high of No. 31 earlier this week. According to ATP statistics, he has amassed a remarkable total of 512 aces across just 27 matches this season and is set to face either Karen Khachanov or Christopher O’Connell in the next round.

Meanwhile, local fans celebrated another victory as Arthur Fils advanced to the second round after narrowly defeating Croatian player Marin Cilic 7-6 (5), 6-4. Fils will next challenge Jan-Lennard Struff, who won his match against Lorenzo Musetti with a score of 6-4, 6-2.