Carlos Alcaraz Advances in Paris Masters as Top Seeds Zverev and Djokovic Exit

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrated a victory against Alex Michelsen during the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament on November 4, 2026. Alcaraz won the match with scores of 7-6 and 6-3, allowing him to reach the last 16 of the tournament.

In contrast, Alexander Zverev, the newly crowned world number one, lost his opening match. Zverev expressed frustration about having to defend his ranking after his defeat to Lorenzo Musetti, who is ranked 24th. Zverev lost the match with scores of 7-6 and 6-2, despite being in a strong position at the start. He mentioned feeling annoyed and that he was the only world number one who had to justify his ranking.

Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, also faced an upset. He lost to Rinky Hijikata, who is ranked 83rd, with scores of 2-6, 6-3, and 6-3. Djokovic started strong but struggled in the later sets, ultimately ending his season early. He stated that he plans to rest in the coming weeks.

Other top players also faced early exits, including Daniil Medvedev, who lost in straight sets to Ignacio Buse. Meanwhile, Alcaraz managed to avoid the trend of upsets, expressing happiness with his performance and focusing on enjoying the game.

Alcaraz will next face Matteo Berrettini in the tournament. The competition continues to be challenging, with several players eliminated early, raising questions about the dominance of the top seeds.