Zverev wins Paris Masters to climb to World Number Two

Alexander Zverev clinched his first Paris Masters title on November 3, 2024, defeating French player Ugo Humbert with a commanding score of 6-2, 6-2. This victory at Bercy’s Palais Omnisports marked Zverev’s seventh ATP Masters 1000 title, solidifying his position as one of the top players in tennis in 2024. 

The match showed a side of Zverev that more people became familiar with during the tournament, as he quickly silenced the crowd, winning the first set in just 37 minutes. He broke Humbert’s serve twice in the opening set and dropped only one point on his serve, illustrating his control throughout the match. 

Humbert, who had a remarkable run to the final, including a stunning upset over world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16, struggled to find his rhythm against Zverev. 

Zverev’s powerful serves and aggressive groundstrokes overwhelmed Humbert, who managed to win only five points on return throughout the match. The German’s performance was particularly impressive given that both players were competing in their fourth final of the season. The 27-year-old had previously faced Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at the French Open final earlier this year, making this victory even sweeter as it marked a significant comeback for him.

With this win, Zverev reclaimed the world number two ranking from Alcaraz and now leads the tour with 66 victories in 2024, surpassing Jannik Sinner. His success in Paris adds to his earlier title this year at the Italian Open in Rome.

Reflecting on his victory, Zverev expressed gratitude for achieving such a milestone at a tournament he admired as a child. He is now set to compete at the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he aims to secure his third title at the season-ending championship after previously winning in 2018 and 2021.