PARIS — Alexander Zverev showcased a dominant performance as he defeated French player Ugo Humbert with a score of 6-2, 6-2 to claim the Paris Masters title on Sunday.
The third-seeded Zverev maintained total control throughout the final, securing his seventh Masters 1000 trophy and marking his first victory in the French capital. This latest triumph also allowed him to surpass top-ranked Jannik Sinner for the most wins on the ATP tour this year, bringing his total to 66 matches.
Zverev’s formidable serve, sharp returns, and aggressive shot-making quickly crushed any hopes the local crowd might have had for Humbert, who never found his footing in the match.
In his inaugural Masters final, Humbert attempted to adopt an aggressive approach, aiming to cut down on rally lengths by taking risks from the start. However, he struggled to find his rhythm while Zverev displayed exceptional defensive skills.
The German player swiftly adapted to his opponent’s serve, earning his first break opportunity in the third game when Humbert sent a forehand into the net. Humbert continued to make critical unforced errors, and despite saving two break points while trailing 3-1, he succumbed to another break when he mishit another forehand.
Zverev allowed only a single point against his serve throughout the first set, ultimately securing it without any loss at love with an ace.
After the opening set, the 15th-seeded Humbert left the court for a brief intermission but came back with no improvement in his game. A double fault marked his return to play, and poor tactical decisions followed, enabling Zverev to capitalize on a quick break. Humbert, unable to maintain a 40-0 lead in a subsequent game, fell further behind as Zverev took a commanding 3-0 lead.
With this victory, Zverev becomes the second German player to win in Paris, following in the footsteps of Boris Becker. He is set to climb past Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP rankings, landing in second place and positioning himself as a key competitor for the ATP Finals, where the season’s top eight players will gather from November 10-17 in Turin, Italy.