Alexander Zverev raised his arms in relief and let the frenetic Paris audience celebrate him: Germany’s tennis star is aiming for his 23rd individual title on the ATP tour on Sunday. The Hamburger defeated the Dane Holger Rune in the semifinals of the Masters in Paris after a dominant performance 6:3, 7:6 (7:4) and has the opportunity after his bitter final defeat in Roland Garros and his Olympic disappointment this year to make peace with the French capital after all.
In the final of the indoor tournament in Paris-Bercy on Sunday, the world number three will face Ugo Humbert from France or the Russian Karen Chatschanow, whom Zverev defeated in the final in Tokyo in his 2021 Olympic triumph.
“I made it a little difficult for myself. I’m happy to be in my second final here and in my second final in Paris this year,” said Zverev: “It’s always exciting to play for such titles.”
For the Hamburg resident, who has recently been in poor health, it is the second time he has reached the final of the Paris Masters, which means he will replace Carlos Alcaraz in second place in the world rankings on Monday. In 2020 he lost in three sets against the Russian Daniil Medvedev. Against Rune, Zverev further extended his personal record with his 65th win this season.
