Humbert sends Alcaraz crashing

PARIS, France (AFP) — World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Paris Masters by 18th-ranked Ugo Humbert of France who swept to a third-round victory in three sets on Thursday.

Left-handed Humbert came through 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 to register his first win over the French Open and Wimbledon champion having lost twice to the Spanish star earlier in 2024.

It was a testing evening for Alcaraz who was 0-5 down in the first set before he managed to get on the board.

“I’m just super proud of myself that I did it,” said Humbert who has won titles in Marseille and Dubai this season.

“It was a crazy match, a crazy atmosphere.”

“I went for every shot,” added Humbert, looking back on his first set blitz.”

“That’s why I think I had less energy in the second set and after in the third it was a mountain that was with me from the beginning of the third set to the end. I trusted myself in big moments and I made some big shots.”

The 21-year-old Alcaraz has endured a rollercoaster second half of the season since his heartbreaking Paris Olympics final loss to Novak Djokovic.

He was knocked out in the second round of the US Open by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, defeated top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the Beijing final before a quarter-final exit at the hands of Tomas Machac, the world No. 33, at the Shanghai Masters.

Humbert goes on to face Australia’s Jordan Thompson for a place in the Paris Masters semifinals.

The French No. 1 just edged Alcaraz in winners on Thursday with 28 to 23 with both men committing 38 unforced errors.

Thompson, ranked at 28, made the quarter-finals of a Masters event for the first time by beating Adrian Mannarino of France 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur’s bid to become the first Australian to make the ATP Tour Finals since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago, were boosted when the ninth seed defeated in-form Jack Draper of Britain 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

The win moved De Minaur into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Turin end-of-season showpiece.

“I’m going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, and show my opponent that I can do that all day. I needed to bring that intensity because Jack is a hell of a competitor, playing with so much confidence right now,” De Minaur said.

He next faces 13th seeded Holger Rune of Denmark who ended the run of French lucky loser Arthur Cazaux 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said he felt like a “bull” as he kept alive his slim hopes of qualifying for the ATP Tour Finals, battling back from a set down to beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-2.

“Starting the second set, I felt like a bull,” said 26-year-old Tsitsipas who likely needs a run to the Paris final to stay in contention for Turin.

The 11th-ranked Greek will next face world number three Alexander Zverev, who defeated France’s Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for a place in the semifinals.

Zverev fired 16 aces and saved three break points when serving for the clash at 5-3 in the decider.