Alexander Zverev survived a tough challenge in his opening match at the Paris Masters 2025, overcoming Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in a three-set battle to keep his title defense alive. The reigning champion eventually prevailed with a score of 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-5, booking his place in the third round of the tournament.
The match proved to be a sterner test than many anticipated for the world number 3. A tight first set saw Zverev and Ugo Carabelli trade blows, with the Argentine ultimately clinching the set in a tie-break. Zverev responded emphatically in the second set, breezing through it in just 35 minutes to level the match. However, Ugo Carabelli, ranked outside the top 100, refused to back down, and the deciding set saw him break Zverev to take a 3-1 lead, threatening an upset at La Defense Arena.
Zverev, however, demonstrated his resilience, breaking back immediately and then securing a crucial break at 5-5 to serve for the match. He closed out the set, avoiding the same fate as world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who exited the tournament on Tuesday.
Speaking after the match, Zverev acknowledged the difficulties he faced. "It was a tough match," he said. "Camilo is a very good player, and he made it very difficult for me today. I had to fight hard, and I'm happy to get through.".
Looking ahead, Zverev is set to face either Spanish 15th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or the French player Arthur Cazaux in the third round. The German expressed his anticipation for the next match, stating, "Both are great players. Davidovich Fokina is very talented, and Cazaux will have the crowd behind him. It will be another tough match, and I need to be ready.".
In other news from the Paris Masters, Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud was defeated in his opening match by Germany's Daniel Altmaier. Additionally, Daniil Medvedev received a walkover into the third round after Grigor Dimitrov withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
The Paris Masters is the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the year, and also a crucial event for players vying for a place at the ATP Finals in Turin next month. With several spots still up for grabs, the tournament promises further excitement and drama as the week progresses. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are both competing at the Paris Masters, a tournament which will influence who ends the year as the world No. 1 in the ATP rankings.
