Alexander Zverev’s tenure as the No. 1 player in men’s tennis started with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 loss to Lorenzo Musetti in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday, a performance he felt was poor.
“I was bad. It’s quite simple,” Zverev said. “This was not a very good match for me, I think maybe one of the worst in the last couple of months.”
Zverev moved to the top ranking on Monday, capping off a fine season that saw him win the first two Grand Slam titles of his career at the French Open and US Open.
Despite those successes, the 29-year-old Zverev sounded agitated and described feeling “a bit annoyed” about what he perceives as not getting enough credit compared to others.
“The No. 1 status is something that I think every player dreams of,” he said. “But then I feel like I’m the only world No. 1 in tennis history that has to explain why it’s OK for me to be world No. 1, which I find quite difficult because I think I deserve to be where I am.”
Zverev was followed out of the tournament by record seven-time champion Novak Djokovic, who lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to qualifier Rinky Hijikata of Australia.
The 10th-seeded Djokovic looked in control but lost three straight games from 3-3 in the second set. He remonstrated with his team at the start of third set and dropped his serve in the seventh game. The 24-time major winner was broken again and lost the match when his backhand landed wide.
Djokovic needed to reach the semifinals to stand a chance of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals later this month. Only two spots remain for the Nov. 15-22 event in Turin.
Playing on a fast indoor court that suits his serve and aggressive ground strokes, Zverev looked out of sorts against Musetti. The mercurial Italian clinched victory with an ace in a one-sided contest where he had more winners (29-25) and less unforced errors (21-12) than Zverev.
“It’s pretty shocking the level I was able to play in front of [Zverev], who was serving really well, especially in the first set,” Musetti said in his on-court interview. “It was really close. It could have gone both ways. The key was to stay there at 5-2. I played five great points in a row.”
Zverev said he should have done much better on such a rapid court suited to his style.
“The court was very, very fast,” he said. “I actually think that this is the court that it should be.”
In other second-round play, seven-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz defeated American Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3, while three-time US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe wasted four match points in a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9) loss to Frenchman Quentin Halys.
Tiafoe’s defeat qualified Arthur Fils for the ATP Finals. He is the first Frenchman to reach the event since Gael Monfils in 2016.
Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev lost 6-4, 6-4 to Ignacio Buse, No. 8 Alex de Minaur and No. 15 Learner Tien also both lost in straight sets, and No. 12 Tommy Paul advanced 6-1, 6-1 over Daniel Merida.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com
