PARIS – Yannick Sinner got off to a strong start in his quest to reclaim the top spot in the rankings on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Zizou Bergs in the second round of the Paris Masters. The Italian needs a win to displace Carlos Alcaraz from the top spot.
Sinner’s 65-week reign as world No. 1 came to an end in September when Alcaraz won the US Open final against Sinner, clinching his sixth major title and the top spot. But Alcaraz lost to unseeded Cameron Norrie in the second round in Paris on Tuesday, opening the door for Sinner in a seesaw rivalry.
Sinner put constant pressure on Bergs, creating 11 break point chances and converting three, but never conceded a break point himself.
“It was very accurate and I got the break right away, so it gave me a little bit more confidence,” said Sinner, who is aiming for his fifth title this year and 23rd place overall. “I am very satisfied with today’s service.”
The 24-year-old Sinner won on his first match point and will face unseeded Francisco Cerundro in the third round.
“Most of my moves (felt) good,” said Sinner, who won the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna on Sunday despite suffering from cramps.
Defending champion Alexander Zverev rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the final set to defeat Camilo Hugo Carabelli 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5 to face Sinner in the third round.
The third-seeded German made a crucial difference with his second serve, winning 78% of points compared to 42% for his opponent, who dropped his serve four times. Zverev will next face 15th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Elsewhere, No. 9 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada rallied from a second-set breakdown and a 3-0 deficit in the third-set tie-break to beat France’s Alexandre Muller 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).
Auger-Aliassime’s erratic performance, with 50 winners and 55 unforced errors, kept his chances of advancing to the season-ending ATP eights Finals in Turin, Italy. He will next face unseeded Daniel Altmayer, who defeated No. 8 seed Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5 to end Norway’s chances in Turin.
Daniil Medvedev, ranked 11th, advanced by default after 2023 runner-up Grigor Dimitrov withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
In other matches, Valentin Bachelot defeated Arthur Lindernecke 6-7 (9), 6-3, 6-4 to once again take the lead in the battle of cousins.
“It was very physically demanding. It was mentally very demanding,” Vashlot said. “We were very nervous, and I think the audience felt that.”
A little more than two weeks ago, Vachelot faced Rinderkneck in the finals of the Shanghai Masters, escaping qualifying in China for his first career tournament win.
Vacherot, who is ranked 40th from Monaco, will face Norie next.
