3 dark horses to win the 2024 Paris Masters ft. Tommy Paul

As the 2024 season comes to a close, the last ATP Masters 1000 event is set to take place in the indoor hard courts of Bercy in the French capital of Paris. The event will start from 28 October.

The field of players involved in the event is highly competitive. All top 10 players will be involved in the proceedings except World No. 4 and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who has withdrawn from the tournament. Naturally, the top three ranked players in the world—Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev—are the top three seeds and the three outright favorites to win the event.

However, some players may not be the top favorites but have a decent chance of passing through the initial rounds and going on to win the title. Here's a look at three dark horses who could win the 2024 Paris Masters.

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#3. Arthur Fils

Arthur Fils (Getty)

Arthur Fils has been one of the most promising players on the ATP circuit in 2024. The 20-year-old Frenchman has won two titles in the season, with wins in Hamburg and Tokyo. While in Hamburg he defeated the World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the latter's home ground in the final, the World No. 20 put up a stellar show in the Japanese capital.

At the Japan Open, Fils played out of his skin to get past the likes of Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Holger Rune to advance to the final. In an all-French clash, he saved match points to win 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 against Ugo Humbert.

Overall, Fils has a 33-24 record in 2024. His further success on hard courts in 2024, came at the ASB Classic where he had a semifinal, losing 2-6, 5-7 against Alejandro Tabilo.

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#2. Jack Draper

Jack Draper (Getty)

2024 has been the coming of age for Jack Draper as the young Brit has put himself on the map of global men's tennis with consistent performances. He won his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart on the grass. Even hard courts have seen the British player do well in 2024.

Draper reached the Adelaide International final to begin the year, losing to Jiri Lehecka. He also reached the semifinal of the Mexican Open, where he had to retire in his match against Alex de Minaur. In the North American hardcourt swing, Draper reached the quarterfinal of the Cincinnati Open, losing to Holger Rune.

The crowning moment for Draper in the season came at the US Open, where he reached his maiden Major semifinal. Despite losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in straight sets, the World No. 18 showed a good level of tennis in the first two sets, taking Sinner to a tiebreak in the second set.

Physical issues have been a problem for Draper, as often he has had to retire from his matches or has fallen ill during his matches. If he can control that aspect of his game, he has the talent to go far in the upcoming Paris Masters.

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#1. Tommy Paul

US Open 2024 - Day 8 - Source: Getty

Tommy Paul has been one of the faces of the American male tennis resurgence in 2024. The World No. 12 has a 45-18 record in the year, with three titles, at the Dallas Open, Queen's Club Championships, and the Stockholm Open.

Overall, Paul has done well on hard courts this season. Besides winning the two hard-court titles in the year, he also reached the final of the Delray Beach Open (lost to Taylor Fritz), and the semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open (lost to Daniil Medvedev). He also had a decent run at the US Open, losing to Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

However, what will hold Paul in good stead before Paris, is his indoor hard court title in Stockholm. The American player had a near-perfect run, getting the better of the likes of Laslo Djere, Miomir Kecmanovic, and Stan Wawrinka to reach the final. In the summit clash, he registered a dominant 6-4, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov.