Sports
Alexander Zverev Outclasses Ugo Humbert To Clinch Paris Masters Title
Germany’s Alexander Zverev won the Paris Masters on Sunday by defeating home hope Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-2 in a dominant display by the new world number two. Zverev, 27, now boasts seven ATP 1000-level titles over the course of his career, following two wins in Rome and Madrid, as well as victories in Montreal and Cincinnati. It was a happy return to Paris for Zverev, after he lost the French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz in June. Four years ago he lost the 2020 Paris Masters championship match to Daniil Medvedev. “I knew I had to play like this to win today,” said Zverev, who opened his victory speech by apologising to the crowd at Paris’ Bercy Arena.
“I want to congratulate Ugo on an incredible week, (he’s an) incredible player. If you continue like this, you’ll be able to lift trophies like this. This is not your last chance, Ugo.”
Zverev’s victory in Saturday’s semi-final meant the current world number three will overtake Spain’s Alcaraz in the new updated rankings.
The German will next play the ATP Finals in Turin from November 10-17, where he will seek to emulate his past successes in 2018 and 2021 at the season-ending showpiece.
Zverev will head into the event as the player with the most wins this year as Sunday’s victory in the French capital was his 66th in 2024, taking him one ahead of world number one Jannik Sinner.
For 26-year-old Humbert it was a chastening experience at the end of a week that will live long in his memory as he reached his career-first Masters final on home soil.
The world number 18 stunned four-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz in the last 16 as he delighted the vocal home crowds on his way to becoming the first French finalist at the indoor event in 13 years.
“I want to congratulate Sascha (Zverev) for the quality of the tennis he has played all this week, and season,” said Humbert.
“I came as a kid to watch matches here (at the Paris Masters) and it made me want to do what I do, so I’m very happy to have reached the final.”
If Humbert had any nerves at the start of his first 1000-level title match, he did not show them as he held serve in the opening game with a sublime forehand passing shot at full stretch.
But the sheer power of the German soon wore him down as Zverev forced a break point in the third game, which he converted as Humbert netted.
A second consecutive break for Zverev handed him a 4-1 lead and with that the first set.
Zverev was firmly in control of the match, making just four unforced errors to his opponent’s 17 in the opener.
And as if to compound this, Humbert started the second set with a double fault as Zverev immediately moved into a 1-0 lead.
Zverev continued to grind his opponent down with his big serve and punishing groundstrokes, despite the efforts of the partisan crowd to boost Humbert.
But the Frenchman could make no headway on the German’s service games, winning only four points on return in the second set, and did not manage to hold one of his own until the fifth game.
Zverev then served out to claim his second Masters trophy of the season, after victory on the clay of Rome in May.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
Former Pakistan cricket team captain Rashid Latif made a mammoth statement regarding the Champions Trophy 2025, saying that the tournament should not happen anymore. During a recent event, Latif said that Pakistan should say no to the competition before BCCI takes any further step. He went on to say that such a step by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will send a big message to the cricketing community. The tournament was supposed to take place in Pakistan but the situation has become complicated after India refused to travel for their matches citing security concerns. While the ICC has suggested a ‘hybrid’ solution that will see India play their matches in Dubai, nothing concrete has been announced yet.
“Champions Trophy shouldn’t happen anymore. You should say no before they refuse,” Latif said.
“We have always been made scapegoats, be it Afghan war or cricket. PCB, ACB, and ICC are the same as they can’t fight against the BCCI. They have the chance to push Pakistan to the front. We have joined hands and are fighting against it, but the only fear is that if India boycotts, where do we stand.”
Rashid Latif said “Pakistan should boycott the Champions Trophy now. Before BCCI takes this step, PCB should take it. Champions Trophy shouldn’t happen anymore”
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 10, 2024
Amid the ongoing impasse on Pakistan’s hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025, the decision on the next year’s marquee event is likely to be announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, sources told IANS on Monday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which holds the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy, has reportedly demanded a written assurance from the international body on the hybrid model for future ICC tournaments after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) communicated to ICC that the Indian team will not travel to Pakistan abiding by the Government of India’s policy.
Amid the stand-off, PCB has agreed to accept the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy with India playing its matches in Dubai while the rest of the tournament will be staged in Pakistan. India will also play the semifinal and final matches in Dubai, subject to qualification.
“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants a written assurance from the World body (ICC) regarding a hybrid model for the future international events to be hosted by India. Decision on Champions Trophy most likely by Wednesday,” sources told IANS
(With IANS inputs)
Topics mentioned in this article
India’s defeat in the pink-ball Test against Australia hasn’t sent shockwaves across the cricketing spectrum, but certain changes have been prescribed to Rohit Sharma and his team. India made three changes in the playing XI for the day-night Test, with Shubman Gill, Ravichandran Ashwin and the skipper coming in. Rohit, however, batted at the No. 6 spot, allowing KL Rahul to continue at the top after his prolific show in the Perth Test. However, Indian cricket great Sunil Gavaskar has urged Rohit to change that in the third Test.
Gavaskar, reflecting on India’s defeat in the Adelaide Test, has urged Rohit to return to his opening spot, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, in Brisbane, sending Rahul to bat at the No. 5 or No. 6 spot.
“He should return to his regular spot. We should remember why Rahul had opened. He did that because Rohit Sharma was not available for the first Test,” said Gavaskar on Sports Tak.
“Now I can understand why they kept him as an opener in the second Test, he had a 200-plus partnership with Jaiswal. But now that he couldn’t score this Test, I feel Rahul should go back to No. 5 or No.6 and Rohit Sharma should open. If Rohit scores quickly in the beginning, then he can score a big century also later,” he added.
Rohit, speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference, admitted that the batting unit crumbled against the pink-ball challenge. But, from the next match onwards, the team needs to take its chances.
“A disappointing week for us, we didn’t play well, and Australia played better cricket than us and won the Test match. We failed to grab our opportunities. We didn’t bat well enough, probably 30-40 runs short with the bat in the first innings. There were opportunities when Australia were batting and we failed to take those chances. When you miss those chances, it’s never easy,” Rohit had said in the press conference.
Topics mentioned in this article
Sports
Australia Great Wants Rahul Dravid In India XI For 3rd Australia Test? Gaffe On Live TV Goes Viral
File photo of Rahul Dravid© AFP
Legendary Australian cricket team batter Matthew Hayden made a hilarious gaffe on live air when he said that he wants Rahul Dravid instead of KL Rahul while talking about India’s team selection for the third Test match. Hayden was analysing India’s loss in the pink-ball Test and his fumble left Gavaskar in splits. The comment came after Gavaskar said that Rohit should not bat at No. 6 and return to opening the batting for India as he is already suffering from a lot of confidence due to his lack of form.
“I think he should come back to opening for the next Test because he likes the ball to come onto the bat. This innings, one can understand, because he hadn’t played for a while, and Rahul and Jaiswal had a 200-run partnership in the previous game. But Rahul can come down the order and face the second new ball. I’m being optimistic that India will bat so well in the next game that Rahul will take care of the second new ball,” he said.
Gavaskar wants Rohit to open, Hayden wants… Dravid back in the XI?? #AUSvIND | @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/9nkbUFFv8X
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 10, 2024
Hayden was not on the same page as Gavaskar and we went to say that India should not make a hasty change to the playing XI. He also backed the “technically-sound” Rahul to continue as opener but ended up saying “Rahul Dravid” in place of “KL Rahul”.
“I’ll be slightly more stubborn. I will not be changing at this stage. I know you would like a better outcome inside the top three. But from what I saw in Perth, technically, Rahul Dravid is right there. He just needs to do it for a longer,” Hayden explained.
As soon as Hayden finished his analysis, Gavaskar taunted the Australia legend as he said – “I would love it if it was Rahul Dravid, as you said, but it is KL Rahul.”
Hayden was left in splits as he said that Dravid’s centuries at the Adelaide Oval “still haunts him”.
“Sorry, KL Rahul. My apologies. I was thinking of when he dominated here in Adelaide and got us smashed in 2003/04 series. That’s a nightmare I’m stull living,” he said.
Topics mentioned in this article
ElevenLabs’ AI voice generation ‘very likely’ used in a Russian influence operation
“Champions Trophy Shouldn’t Happen”: Pakistan Great Drops Bombshell
“Rohit Sharma Should…”: Sunil Gavaskar Wants Big Change In India’s Batting Unit For 3rd Test
‘Status Symbol’: As Splinter Faction Claims to Be ‘Real JD(S)’, Is Party Headed Shiv Sena, AIADMK, NCP Way?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Launch Projects Worth ₹21,500 crore In Poll Bound Telangana | News18
Google Chrome Launches A New AI Tool Named ‘Help Me Write’
-
Politics12 months ago‘Status Symbol’: As Splinter Faction Claims to Be ‘Real JD(S)’, Is Party Headed Shiv Sena, AIADMK, NCP Way?
-
Politics1 year agoPrime Minister Narendra Modi To Launch Projects Worth ₹21,500 crore In Poll Bound Telangana | News18
-
Press Release1 year agoGoogle Chrome Launches A New AI Tool Named ‘Help Me Write’
-
Cryptocurrency1 year agoRecent Funding Rounds for Crypto Projects & Companies on October 19th💼🚀
-
Tech1 year agoAndreessen Horowitz backs Civitai, a generative AI content marketplace with millions of users
-
Tech1 year agoCharacter.AI introduces group chats where people and multiple AIs can talk to each other
-
Cryptocurrency1 year agoRecent Funding Rounds for Crypto Projects & Companies on Oct 18th🚀💰
-
Entertainment7 months agoWhy Brenda Edwards is wearing an eye patch on Loose Women