Jannik Sinner Dominates Zverev, Eyes Paris Masters Title

PARIS, France — Jannik Sinner cruised to victory over Alexander Zverev, winning 6-0, 6-1 in just over an hour in the semifinals of the Paris Masters on Saturday. With this victory, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Italy is one match away from reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking.

If Sinner wins tomorrow’s final, he will displace Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz atop the ATP rankings. Alcaraz currently holds the No. 1 spot after a stellar season, but Sinner is ready to take it back.

“Playing against Sascha is always a special occasion, and today he was clearly not 100%,” Sinner said, acknowledging Zverev’s struggles during the match. Sinner converted two of five break points against Zverev, showcasing his precision by winning 90% of his first serve points in the first set.

Sinner’s indoor winning streak has now reached 25 matches, which includes a recent victory over Zverev in the Vienna final. He clearly dominated in the semifinal, quickly building a 5-0 lead and maintaining control throughout the match.

Meanwhile, Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the final after defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, and he will be Sinner’s opponent on Sunday. Auger-Aliassime achieved his 12th ace to start the match and finished with powerful groundstrokes, sealing the victory with a forehand winner.

“It was an incredible match yesterday for Zverev, but making the final in Vienna and then here shows his talent. I hope he gets better in time for Turin,” Sinner added, expressing sympathy for his opponent’s condition.

With a chance to claim his fifth title of the year, Sinner said, “I’m happy to be in the final, but it’s not how you want to arrive.” Both players have a 2-2 head-to-head record, and the final promises to be thrilling as both seek their respective goals: Sinner for the World No. 1 ranking and Auger-Aliassime for a title that would mark his fourth of the season.