Alexander Zverev silenced the French crowd on Sunday, producing a clinical performance to defeat Ugo Humbert 6-2 6-2.
Humbert was bidding to become the first homegrown Paris Masters winner since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008, but he never got close.
Even though he likes to fist pump after winning the most trivial of points, he struggled to find anything worth celebrating, winning just five return points all match.
After winning Rome earlier this season, Zverev has 66 match wins this year and two Masters 1000 titles in his trophy cabinet.
The win also means the German is the last champion in Bercy. The tournament moves to Nanterre in 2025 and will take place at La Défense Arena, a larger multipurpose venue.Â
Zverev is now number 2 in the ATP rankings and heads into Turin as the in-form player, so I expect him to be tricky opposition for Sinner and Alcaraz over at the Pala Alpitour.
Paris Masters 2024 Final Result
| Winner | Loser | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev (3) | Ugo Humbert (15) | 6-2 6-2 |
Quick Match Recap
Zverev started the match in fine fettle, breaking in the third and fifth game before taking it 6-2. The German dropped just 1 point on serve in the opener, and the margin between the two players couldn’t have been starker, with Sacha winning 30 points across the set to Humbert’s 15.
Set two was similar, and Humbert got off to the worst possible start by dropping the opening game to fifteen.
He then saved three break points and held a game point in his next service game. But Zverev was in no mood to let up, securing the double break which he maintained en route to another 6-2 set.
The stats show just how much of a carve-up this final was. Humbert, who has played flashy tennis this week, could not impact Zverev’s game or get the crowd involved—they had nothing to cheer about.Â
I was also impressed with Zverev’s forehand. Usually, it’s a relative weakness, but it flowed nicely from the word go, and he was far superior in all areas.
Someone else who’ll be happy with Zverev’s win is Karen Khachanov, who was disappointed with Humbert’s behaviour yesterday, celebrating like a madman even though Khachanov could not move.
I’d have to agree; Humbert was insufferable towards the end of the match, so in some ways, it was fitting that Zverev made him look like a cheese-eating surrender monkey today.
I knew I had to play like this to win today. Ugo is an incredible player, but here in Paris, he plays even better than usual, and I knew that. Once the crowd gets involved, it’s going to be difficult. So, I had to take that away early, and I did, so I’m happy about that. Zverev on his win.
Match Stats
| Â | Alexander Zverev | Ugo Humbert |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 4 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 4 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 62% | 52% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 91% (21/23) | 63% (17/27) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 79% (11/14) | 36% (9/25) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/0) | 33% (2/6) |
| 1st Return Points Won | 37% (10/27) | 9% (2/23) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 64% (16/25) | 21% (3/14) |
| Break Points Converted | 67% (4/6) | 0% (0/0) |
| Winners | 15 | 12 |
| Unforced Errors | 9 | 25 |
| Net Points Won | 75% (6/8) | 67% (4/6) |
| Service Points Won | 86% (32/37) | 50% (26/52) |
| Return Points Won | 50% (26/52) | 14% (5/37) |
| Total Points Won | 65% (58/89) | 35% (31/89) |
| Service Games Won | 100% (8/8) | 50% (4/8) |
| Return Games Won | 50% (4/8) | 0% (0/8) |
| Total Games Won | 75% (12/16) | 25% (4/16) |
Highlights
Did you enjoy the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters? Will you miss the atmosphere at the Accor Hotels Arena in Bercy?