'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 52nd edition of the Paris Masters will be held from October 28 to November 3, 2024. Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, recently announced his decision to skip the event. He is the most successful player in the history of the tournament, with seven titles to his name.
The tournament is likely to decide the fate of the remaining contenders for the ATP Finals. With a 1,000 points up for grabs, players will aim to make a deep run here to qualify for the year-end championships. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev are the only four players to have qualified so far.
Djokovic's success at the venue always made him the leading contender to capture the title here. However, with him out of the way, this leaves the door open for other players to shine. Here's a look at five in-form players who could win the Paris Masters this year:
Trending
#5 Taylor Fritz
With a 49-20 record this season and two titles to his name, Fritz has been one of the most consistent performers this year. He recently advanced to his first Major final at the US Open, and went down to Sinner. He also reached his first final on clay at the BMW Open, and lost to Jan-Lennard Struff.
Fritz captured titles in Eastbourne and Delray Beach, and made the semifinals of the Madrid Open, and more recently, at the Shanghai Masters. As one of the few former Masters champions in the draw, the American knows what it takes to go all the way at this level. However, he hasn't reached another Masters final since winning the Indian Wells Masters two years ago.
Fritz has a 6-4 record at the Paris Masters, with a quarterfinal showing in 2021 being his best result. Given his form, it wouldn't be too surprising to see him better that result at the very least, or even lift the winner's trophy.
#4 Daniil Medvedev
Despite a healthy 45-18 record this year, Medvedev doesn't have a title to his name. The closest he came to claiming one was at the Australian Open. He led Sinner by two sets to love in the final, only to lose the match in five sets. He also lost to the Italian in the Miami Open final.
Medvedev won the Paris Masters back in 2020, and was the runner-up the following year. He has a 10-5 record at the venue, and has bowed out in the second round every time aside from his trip to the summit clash. Additionally, he has never won the same title twice in his career. However, with his consistency, he is bound to break the trend at some point, and he has the potential to do the same here.
#3 Alexander Zverev
Zverev defeated Marcos Giron 6-2, 7-5 in the second round of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna to claim his 61st win of the season, the most he has recorded in a year. He has tasted considerable success this year, with a title at the Italian Open, along with a runner-up finish at the French Open.
Zverev also made the last four at two other Masters events this year, at the Miami Open and the Cincinnati Open. He has a 12-6 record at the Paris Masters, and lost to Medvedev in the final four years ago. Even though the competition is tough, the German could prevail here. He's one of the few active players to have multiple Masters titles, and with a kind draw, he could be the last man standing.
#2 Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz won the French Open and became the youngest player to complete the "Surface Slam", that is, winning a Major title on all three surfaces. He also successfully defended his Wimbledon crown, though he suffered a shock second-round exit from the US Open.
Alcaraz defended his Indian Wells title as well. Out of the five Masters tournaments he has participated this year, he has lost prior to the quarterfinals only once. A quarterfinal appearance in 2022 remains his best result at the Paris Masters, and he has a 4-3 record here.
The Spaniard recently won the China Open, and made the last eight at the Shanghai Masters. While his record at the Paris Masters is a little underwhelming, he could make a play for the title this time given his current form.
#1 Jannik Sinner
The tour's best player is naturally the top pick to win the Paris Masters. Sinner has an incredible 65-6 record this year, and has won seven titles from eight finals thus far. He won both hardcourt Majors this year, along with three Masters titles, including the last two, the Cincinnati Open and the Shanghai Masters.
Sinner has a dismal 1-2 record at the Paris Masters, though he's likely to overturn that this year. Half of his six losses have come at the hands of Alcaraz this season. He did beat the Spaniard in the final of the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition event. While that won't be counted in their official head-to-head, it would've certainly boosted his confidence. He's on an 11-match winning streak at the Masters level, and could extend it further with a title here.
