World number one Carlos Alcaraz was stunned in his opening match at the Paris Masters on Tuesday as he went down to 31st-ranked Briton Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The six-time Grand Slam champion has never won the Paris Masters in five attempts and now faces losing his place atop the rankings should rival Jannik Sinner win the tournament in the French capital.

Returning from three weeks out of official competition due to an ankle issue, Alcaraz claimed the opening set as he displayed his usual combination of fire and flair.

However, much like his ultimately successful run at the French Open this spring, the Spaniard's level dropped off a cliff mid-match.

NORRIE UPSETS ALCARAZ! 😳

The moment @cam_norrie defeated World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the #RolexParisMasters

pic.twitter.com/hgMh0dfv71

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 28, 2025

This time he was made to pay.

"I'm really disappointed about my level today," Alcaraz told reporters after the loss.

"I had all the ideas clear, all the goals clear but today even in the first set which I won I felt I could do a lot more than I actually did.

"I have to give credit to Cam... He played really well today, a solid match, and I think that was the key."

The mercurial Norrie, who drew his fair share of admiring gasps from the 17,500-capacity centre court at the La Defense Arena, capitalised on his opponent's errors by breaking him twice at crucial times in the second and third sets.

The 30-year-old said the win was "maybe the number one" of his career.

"I've been working really hard this year so it's nice to get a win like this to make it worth it," added the former world number eight.

Jannik Sinner said on Tuesday that he had come to terms with finishing the season behind rival Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings.

The Italian world No 2 lost top spot in the standings when he was fell to the Spaniard in the final of the US Open in September – after having held it for 65 weeks.

"It's impossible (to finish the year at No 1). Honestly, I'm not thinking about this at the moment. It's going to be a goal for next year," Sinner told reporters ahead of his opening match at the Paris Masters.

Trailing the Spaniard by less than 1 000 points, Sinner could theoretically overtake Alcaraz if he wins the Paris Masters and his rival fails to reach the last four.

But he will then have to defend 1 500 points at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin – which he won in 2024 – whereas his rival was eliminated in the group stage and has few points to lose.

"This year it's not in my hands," Sinner simply added.

He comes into the event in the French capital on good form after winning the Vienna Open on Sunday.

But the long season has taken its toll on the 24-year-old.

He retired after suffering from cramps at the Shanghai Masters earlier in October and experienced problems with his thigh in the Austrian capital.

"It was not the same issue at all (in Vienna)," Sinner revealed.

"I feel like (it) was normal. You know, I played five days in a row. The final was very physical. It can happen."

The four-time Grand Slam champion said he was "not worried physically" ahead of his opening match in Paris on Wednesday against Belgium's Zizou Bergs.

"The body feels good now. A bit tired, of course, playing five matches in a row and coming here is not much time to recover," he said.

"But I'm happy how I'm feeling. I recover every day better."

Former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev kickstarted his campaign at the Paris Masters on Tuesday with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.

The 2020 Paris Masters champion began briskly on the vast centre court of the event's new La Defense Arena home, claiming the opening set in under half-an-hour.

Former Paris champion advances 👏@DaniilMedwed gets his first win at the @RolexPMasters since 2021 by defeating Munar in straight sets!#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/C7C2pqg8oX

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 28, 2025

Eleventh seed Medvedev then secured the crucial break in the sixth game of the second set and served out to set up a second-round meeting with Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Earlier, Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin with a comeback 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-3 victory over Argentinian Francisco Comesana.

Auger-Aliassime is ninth in the race for the eight-place tournament and needs a deep run in the French capital to make his second career appearance at the season-ending tournament.

Shock Shanghai Masters winner Valentin Vacherot raised the roof on the 17 500-capacity centre court as he continued his remarkable form in the opening match of the day.

The Monegasque wildcard beat Czech 14th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-3 in under an hour, and will next meet his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in a repeat of the Shanghai final earlier in October.

Canadian Gabriel Diallo beat Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 and France's Corentin Moutet fought past American lucky loser Reilly Opelka in three sets.

In the night session, Spanish world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz will play his first match of the tournament when he meets Britain's Cameron Norrie in the round of 32.

Fourth seed Taylor Fritz will round out the day's action against Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic.

Cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech are set to face each other in the Paris Masters second round on Wednesday following their Shanghai Masters final clash this month.

Vacherot, who defeated Frenchman Rinderknech in Shanghai to become the first player from Monaco to win an ATP title, cruised past 14th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-1 6-3 in the first round in Paris on Tuesday.

"I'm living a fairytale... that's why I'm playing so well, I'm enjoying every second," said Vacherot, who was 204th in the world when he became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Rinderknech, a wildcard in the tournament like his cousin, beat Fabian Marozsan 7-6(5) 7-6(4) on Monday to reach the second round.

"This time I am the first one to play and (Vacherot) has to follow suit. I prefer it this way, because it was tiring in Shanghai," Rinderknech said.

Vacherot said he was proud of how Rinderknech had played against Marozsan.

"It was such a tough match against Fabian... I'm just so excited for the crowd, for the family. We're just going to enjoy this match so much, once again," he added.

Jannik Sinner clinched his fourth title of the season on Sunday as the Italian rallied from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev in the final of the Vienna Open.

Sinner dropped his first set of the tournament before staging a comeback to see off Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to land the 22nd title of his career.

Vienna Virtuoso 🎻🏆@janniksin defeats Zverev 3-6 6-3 7-5 to claim his second @ErsteBankOpen crown.#ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/AJEtZ74M7l

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025

It is his second triumph in Vienna, where he also lifted the trophy in 2023, and extended his winning run on indoor hard courts to 21 matches going into next week's final Masters 1000 of the year in Paris.

But the top seed had to do it the hard way after falling behind as world No 3 Zverev, who had won four of seven previous meetings, secured the only break of the first set to take the upper hand.

"It was such a difficult start in this final for me," said Sinner.

"I went a break down, had some chances in the first set but couldn't use them. He was serving very well, but I just tried to stick there mentally and play my best tennis when it came."

A feeling that never gets old 🤩

The moment @janniksin claimed his fourth title of the season.@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/VCJYUmrN7N

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025

Sinner replied though by racing 3-0 ahead in the second set as he forced a decider against the 2021 champion.

Zverev saved two break points in the fifth game of the third set but Sinner maintained the pressure despite battling a thigh issue in his first event since retiring with cramp at the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner created another opportunity at 5-all with a blistering backhand down the line and won a lengthy rally the following point to snatch the key break.

Title No. 22 🙌@janniksin | @ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/PijoBaLPoU

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025

A routine hold wrapped up victory for the 24-year-old who has reached the final in eight of his 10 tournaments this season, with Sinner adding to his titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Beijing.

"The third set was a bit of a rollercoaster, but I was feeling the ball very well at times, so I tried to push and I'm very happy of course to win another title," Sinner added.

"It's very special."

Brazilian 19-year-old Joao Fonseca secured the biggest title of his career so far by downing Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the ATP 500 event in Basel on Sunday.

The teenager now has two Tour-level titles after adding Basle to his Buenos Aires crown from February.

Biggest title of his career ✅
Top 30 debut ✅

Joao Fonseca conquers Basel 🏆#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/4ZNPuHQLWl

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025

In Switzerland, Fonseca became the third youngest player to win a 500 event since the series began in 1990.

He will break the top 30 in the rankings for the first time, moving from 46 to 28 in the world.

"It is crazy," said Fonseca. "I want to thank my family and my coaches who helped me achieve this amazing effort.

"My parents just came from Brazil. They were coming to Paris and changed their flights and came here one hour before the match with my uncles. It is just amazing to have them here for the biggest title of my career."

Fonseca will next switch his attention to the Paris Masters, which runs from 27 October to 2 November.

In Switzerland, Fonseca broke Davidovich Fokina early in the first set and never looked back as he overwhelmed his 26-year-old opponent with his powerful serve and aggressive baseline hitting.

A "pinch me" moment for Fonseca.#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/PZ29SEUxAo

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 26, 2025

The Rio de Janeiro-native again broke early in the second set, before securing the trophy on his second match point after one hour and 26 minutes on court.

For Davidovich Fokina, the wait for his first title on the tour continues after his fifth defeat in a final – four of which have come this season.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca overcame Spain's Jaume Munar 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 in Basel on Saturday to advance to the second final of his career.

🇧🇷 FONSEQUISMO MAGIC IN BASEL 🇧🇷

Joao Fonseca breaks new ground, advancing to his maiden ATP 500 final with a 7-6(4) 7-5 victory over Munar!#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/vzUOCVCorN

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2025

The 19-year-old is seeking to add to his breakthrough victory in Buenos Aires in February.

Fonseca will play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Sunday.

The Spaniard was leading 7-6 (7/4), 3-1 when his French opponent Ugo Humbert followed the advice of coach Jeremy Chardy and withdrew with a back injury.

Unfortunate scenes in Basel 🥲

Davidovich Fokina through to the final as Humbert is forced to stop at 7-6 3-1.#SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/ZtZ2xDsxgB

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2025

Chardy told Humbert, who had taken a medical time out in the third game and was struggling to serve, to stop if he was in "too much pain".

"It's clear you can't play now," Chardy said.

Top seed Jannik Sinner crushed Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-4 on Saturday to reach the Vienna Open final for the second time, where he will face second seed Alexander Zverev for the title in a battle between two former champions.

Sinner's dominant victory – his 50th over a fellow top-10 player – extended his streak to 20 consecutive wins on indoor hardcourtsas he moved into his eighth final of the season.

JANNIK. BUILT. DIFFERENT. 🤖

Sinner clinches his 20th straight indoor hard court win to reach his 8th final of the season! 👏@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/3c17dnXQkL

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2025

"(I) came here quite late to the tournament, tried to take every day in the best possible way and I'm happy to be here in the final. It was not easy to (reach) the final here," said Sinner.

"The first set was very physical, so I'm happy that I won in two sets today. He changed a couple of things, which I was ready for today."

COMMANDING 4-0 LEAD

Vienna champion in 2023, Sinner came out of the blocks fast, racing through the opening four games and breaking twice to establish a 4-0 lead in 15 minutes.

Third seed De Minaur managed to win only four points before the Australian finally got on the scoreboard by breaking the top seed.

Jannik stays sharp 🎯

First service game dropped in Vienna but finds his groove to take it 6-3!@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen | @janniksin pic.twitter.com/6jB14dCoG4

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2025

As the crowd roared its appreciation for the underdog, Sinner seemed to take his foot off the gas, but any hopes of a revival were dashed at 5-3 when the Italian unleashed a searing forehand past De Minaur before wrapping up the opening set.

De Minaur showed more fight in the second set as the pair traded breaks, but Sinner's power and precision proved too much as he broke again to lead 4-3, with the Australian having no answer to the top seed's relentless pressure.

The writing was on the wall when De Minaur sat stone-faced on his chair during a changeover at 5-4 and Sinner duly served out to love to extend his perfect record to 12-0 against the Australian.

ZVEREV KNOCKS OUT MUSETTI

Zverev, the 2021 champion, beat fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 7-5, firing nine aces as he racked up his 300th hardcourt win.

The German had lost his last three matches against Musetti but this time was well in control as he reached his first final since Stuttgart in June.

3⃣0⃣0⃣ hard court wins and counting 🙌

In the battle of former champions in Vienna, @AlexZverev prevails over Musetti 6-4 7-5!@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/zmEMvzWzea

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2025

Musetti threatened to level the match in the second set when he went 5-4 up but the German held his serve.

Zverev then made the crucial break before serving for the match, sealing his place in the final with an ace.

Zverev will be meeting Sinner for the first time since the Italian beat him in straight sets in the Australian Open final.

"It's going to be a great challenge," Zverev said. "Playing one of the two best players in the world, seeing where my level really is."

Twice ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev booked his place in the season-ending championship after progressing to the semifinals of the Vienna Open on Friday, marking his eighth qualification in the past nine seasons.

Zverev secured his spot for the Turin event after Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor withdrew from their quarterfinal clash in Vienna, where the German world No 3 is seeded second.

Zverev, who finished as runner-up at the Australian Open in January, joins Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic as the first four players to qualify for the event, which runs from November 9-16. Four spots are up for grabs.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed success at the ATP Finals, lifting the trophy in 2018 and 2021. He also reached the semis in 2019 and 2024. His only absence from the tournament since 2017 came in 2022, when a serious ankle injury sidelined him for much of the season.

Jannik Sinner was made to work by Flavio Cobolli before the top seed mastered his fellow Italian to reach the quarterfinals in Vienna on Thursday.

Sinner dominated the first set 6-2 in the last 16 tie but then had to remain patient as Cobolli dug deep to clinch the second set 7-6 (7/4).

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner is playing in Austria after retiring with cramps earlier this month in his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor in the Shanghai Masters.

QF Bound ✅@janniksin gets the better of compatriot and good friend Cobolli 6-2 7-6(4) to set up a clash with Bublik for a spot in the semis ⏳@ErsteBankOpen | #ErsteBankOpen pic.twitter.com/THrWjp8DN0

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 23, 2025

Sinner did not face a break point in the first set against Cobolli, but was unable to convert any of the four break opportunities he secured in the second.

"He is a great talent and a great competitor and we both played some great tennis at times," said world number two Sinner of his compatriot.

"I had some chances in the second but could not use them and that is tennis. I tried to stay in the moment and play with a great mentality and I am very happy with today's match," he added.

Sinner will face eighth seed Alexander Bublik in the quarters after the Kazakh downed Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-2 in the last 16.

Second seed Alexander Zverev is also through to the last eight where he meets Tallon Griekspoor.

France's Corentin Moutet gained swift revenge on Daniil Medvedev.

The pair met in last Sunday's final in Almaty, with Medvedev prevailing.

Four days later Moutet emerged the winner over the Russian 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Unseeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert toppled top seed Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4 in the Swiss Indoors last 16 on Thursday.

This was the second American Humbert, 27, has knocked out in Basel following his first-round defeat of Sebastian Korda 24 hours earlier.

The French number one left-hander's reward is a quarterfinal match-up against US qualifier Reilly Opelka.

Statement victory 👊@HumbertUgo stuns the No.1 seed Fritz in straight sets for his first Top 5 win of the year! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/jJIwvob6lQ

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 23, 2025

Last Sunday the world number 24 Humbert reached the final of the Stockholm ATP 250 tournament where he was beaten in two sets by Norway's Casper Ruud.

Ruud, the fourth seed, downed veteran home hope Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in Basel to set up a quarterfinal date with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Defeat for Fritz came on the back of his battling three-set first round win over this month's Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot.

Basel second seed Ben Shelton was also sent packing, 6-3 6-4 by Spain's Jaume Munar, who faces fifth-seed Felipe Auger-Aliassime in the last eight.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi defended men's tennis's crowded calendar on Thursday, saying scheduling remains the players' choice and that the tour is working to set clearer incentives so the right number of matches are played across the season.

Speaking after the ATP announced a new Masters 1000 event in Saudi Arabia from 2028, Gaudenzi pushed back on criticism from leading players over a year-round grind.

"Tennis is quite unique in that a player can play one match or seven matches in two weeks," Gaudenzi told reporters on Thursday.

"We operate in an environment where players are independent contractors and they choose their own schedules. Some who go deep at big events play fewer tournaments; others need more because they lose earlier and need matches."

REVAMP AIMS TO OPTIMISE THE CALENDAR

Gaudenzi said the ATP's ongoing "Vision 28" revamp aims to optimise the calendar and strengthen the tour's "premium product" – the Grand Slams, Masters 1000s and season-ending Finals – while improving rules and incentives so players build schedules "in a waterfall system" starting from the biggest events.

"Philosophically speaking, the direction in which we're going, because we're doing a revision of our rules with the goal of creating a new product, Vision 28, is that players should play in a sort of a waterfall system where if you're a top player, your schedule should start with slams, Masters and the Finals," he said.

"When you don't perform well or need matches, you can play down at the 500s."

He said the ATP could "help create better rules" and that "the off-season should be longer – for players and for fans."

But, he added, "protecting players from themselves would require a completely different structure where they're employees and the tour controls when they play."

His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the workload.

Women's world No 2 Iga Swiatek has called the calendar "relentless" and warned she may skip mandatory events to prioritise health.

INJURIES AND LIMITED RECOVERY TIME

Men's players including Jack Draper, Holger Rune, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev have also highlighted injuries and limited recovery time as Masters tournaments expand to 12 days.

Gaudenzi acknowledged those concerns but argued that the open system – in which players decide when and where to compete – inevitably creates uneven workloads, with elite performers playing 80 matches in strong seasons and others chasing games and points lower down the ladder.

"If the goal is a fair range – say 70 to 85 matches a year – then some players will naturally need more tournaments than others," he said.

Gaudenzi said the new Saudi partnership would be used to boost the Masters bonus pool to encourage top-player participation.

While some players have been criticised for entering exhibition tournaments amid a heavy workload, world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz last week defended playing in the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Riyadh as less taxing than regular tour events – another sign of the competing incentives players navigate.

Gaudenzi said the ATP would keep refining incentives, rules and the off-season, but the basic balance between player freedom and tour control was unlikely to change.

"If you want a long, successful career, you say 'no' more often than 'yes' and build around the biggest events," he said.

"That's the reality at the top of the game – and ultimately, it's the players who choose."

The ATP on Thursday announced the creation of a new Masters 1000 event which will take place annually in Saudi Arabia from as early as 2028.

The new event will be played on hard courts and take place "at the start of the season" in a city yet to be determined and will last "one week", ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said at a press conference in Paris.

Backed by @PIF_en, #SURJSports’ partnership with @ATPTour marks a defining moment in 🎾

Joining an elite list of hosts for the #ATPMasters1000 tournaments, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its ambition and help shape the future of the global game.#PIF pic.twitter.com/OEUMDGcOMZ

— SURJ Sports Investment (@surj_sports) October 23, 2025

The long-expected move marks the first ever expansion of the top-tier category of men's tennis since its creation in 1990.

The Saudi tournament will join the nine existing Masters events, which take place in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Toronto/Montreal, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris.

Gaudenzi called the expansion to 10 events "a proud moment for us and the result of a journey that's been years in the making".

The addition of another tournament to the tennis calendar comes at the end of a season marked by complaints from some players about the demanding pace of the tour, whose tournaments run from January to November.

However, unlike the majority of its counterparts, the new Saudi tournament will not be a mandatory event.

In a statement published on Thursday, the ATP said the tournament would be launched as part of a deal with SURJ Sports Investments – a company with links to Saudi's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The amount invested by SURJ to secure the organisation of the new Masters event has not been disclosed.

Saudi Arabia has increased its presence in world sport – particularly tennis – in recent years and has hosted the WTA Finals in Riyadh since 2024.

The PIF has also attached its name to the ATP rankings and formed partnerships with several existing Masters 1000 tournaments such as Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid.

The Next Gen ATP Finals, which bring together the eight best players aged 20-and-under at the end of every season, have been held in the kingdom since 2023.

Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot was brought back down to earth as he suffered a narrow defeat by top seed Taylor Fritz in the Swiss Indoors first round in Basel on Wednesday.

Fritz battled to a 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over the Monegasque who became the lowest-ranked player to win an ATP 1 000 tournament in China earlier this month.

Just waiting for the right moment 💥@Taylor_Fritz97 | #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/XnPh8t3NPN

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 22, 2025

Vacherot climbed 165 places in the world rankings from 204th to 39th courtesy of his history-making maiden tour title.

He initially carried on from where he left off, breaking American Fritz twice to take the opening set in Basle.

Turning defense into attack 😮‍💨@val_vacherot | #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/ExThVmSZfM

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 22, 2025

World No 4 Fritz needed eight set points before eventually securing the second set in a tie-break.

Vacherot again fought back from a break down in the third but his resistance was finally ended when he dropped serve in the 12th game.

Fritz will next face Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the last 16 on Thursday.

Jannik Sinner cruised to victory over Daniel Altmaier in his first-round match in Vienna on Wednesday as he returned to action for the first time since hobbling out of the Shanghai Masters.

The world No 2 raced to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over German Altmaier, posting his quickest win of the year in just 58 minutes.

Sinner will face fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli in the last 16 on Thursday as he continues his bid for a fourth title of the season.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had to retire with cramps earlier this month in his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai.

But he beat Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas in an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia last week and was in fine form again in the Austrian capital.

Sinner did not face a single break point in the match and lost just six points in the opening set as he blew the 51st-ranked Altmaier off the court.

"I feel like in the first set everything was working very well," said Sinner.

"I'm very happy about today's performance, starting the tournament in a very positive way, not only game-wise but feeling-wise."

Earlier, Daniil Medvedev continued his strong form by defeating Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2.

The former world No 1 ended a two-year wait for an ATP title last weekend in Almaty.

Novak Djokovic announced on Tuesday he would miss the upcoming Paris Masters, but added he hoped to compete at the tournament next year.

Djokovic has not played an official match since going down to then-world number 204 Valentin Vacherot in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters earlier in October.

The 38-year-old struggled physically throughout that match, throwing up courtside and receiving medical treatment multiple times.

"Dear Paris, unfortunately I'll not compete at this year's (tournament)," the 24-time Grand Slam winner said on social media.

"I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times.

"Hope to see you next year."

Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s @RolexPMasters. I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title 7 times. Hope to see you next year. Merci 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/y4iEmMYUAn

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) October 21, 2025

Last week, Djokovic was forced to abandon his third place match against American Taylor Fritz at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.

The Serbian skipped the Paris Masters last season as he has drastically reduced the number of tournaments in which he competes as he continues his quest for a record-breaking 25th major title.

World number 10 Holger Rune will also miss this year's Paris Masters, which runs from October 27 to November 2, after announcing he underwent an operation on his Achilles tendon.

"Surgery went really well... I will keep you updated on my recovery. But now rest and heal," the Dane posted Tuesday on Instagram.

Norway's Casper Ruud blasted past Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-3 to win the Stockholm ATP 250 tournament on Sunday to win his 14th career title.

The second seed raced through the first set in just 30 minutes, dropping just two points on his serve.

Title No. 14 🏆@CasperRuud98 captures a 14th career ATP Tour-level title as he defeats Humbert in Stockholm@bnppnordicopen | #BNPParibasNordicOpen pic.twitter.com/B71Db2Dlr0

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 19, 2025

The second set was a similar affair as Ruud broke fourth seed Humbert early on and easily served out the match, dropping only one point on his serve in the second set.

He wrapped up victory in just 68 minutes.

Out of this world performance 🌎

A simply flawless @CasperRuud98 takes the crown with a 6-2 6-3 scoreline@bnppnordicopen | #bnppnordicopen pic.twitter.com/g0fu0WD4Hi

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 19, 2025

"I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week and sorry about today. I think I played the best match of the year against you, so I am sorry. I am really happy but sorry Ugo," Ruud said on court after the game.

"I know that against you, if I don't play well, you will destroy me. So I knew I had to wake up and play well.

"All the legends have played here in the past. (Roger) Federer, (Rafael) Nadal, (Bjorn) Borg, (John) McEnroe, you name it. So it is an honour to get a title here."

It was Ruud's second title of 2025 after his victory at the Masters 1000 in Madrid at the beginning of May.

Easy does it 😅💪

The 8th Scandinavian champion in tournament history @CasperRuud98 with the heavy lifting

@bnppnordicopen | #bnppnordicopen pic.twitter.com/7qN5DVzI8T

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 19, 2025

Daniil Medvedev won his first title in two years on Sunday, defeating Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Almaty.

Since winning in Rome in May 2023, Medvedev, ranked 14 in the world, has lost six finals including the US Open the same year, and the Australian Open the following January.

882 Days In The Making 🏆@DaniilMedwed captures his first title since May 2023 after defeating Moutet in Almaty@AlmatyOpen_KZ | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/Uku0Ad2Qpf

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 19, 2025

This year he lost in the second round in Melbourne before going out in the first round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.

After the US Open, Medvedev started working with new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke and responded by reaching the semifinals in Beijing and Shanghai.

The 21st victory of his career also boosts his hopes of reaching the year-ending ATP Finals, moving him up three spots to 12th, just 875 points behind Lorenzo Musetti who is in the eighth and final place.

"It is great. I was not super happy with how I played in some moments of the match, but to win feels amazing," said Medvedev.

"In the most important points I played good."

The Russian will compete in the ATP 500 in Vienna next week in an attempt to continue his climb up the rankings.

After two evenly matched sets, Medvedev took the upper hand in the decider.

Close to breaking at 2-1, with Moutet saving four break points, the former world No 1 managed to break the Frenchman's serve at 4-3 before closing out the match on his serve.

WHAT a match. WHAT a tournament. 🤩@DaniilMedwed is well and truly back in the winner's circle with title No.21 after a 7-5 4-6 6-3 triumph @AlmatyOpen_KZ | #AlmatyOpen pic.twitter.com/xKBQmWci5p

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 19, 2025

"The last game was incredible and I am happy to win the title," said Medvedev. "It continues my funny story of 21 titles in 21 different cities."

Corentin, 26, is still waiting for his first career title after a third final defeat following Doha in 2020 and in Mallorca this year.

World No 9 Jack Draper said the ATP Tour must review its packed calendar if young players are to have long careers, after Holger Rune sustained a serious injury and joined a growing list of players breaking down as the season nears its end.

The relentless men's and women's tennis circuits, which run for 11 months, have come under a harsh spotlight in recent weeks with a string of high-profile players, including Draper, pulling out of tournaments and prematurely ending their seasons.

Several women's players have also struggled with health and fitness concerns in the ongoing Asian swing of tournaments, with the likes of Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa all affected.

Draper, who is nursing an arm injury that forced him out of last month's US Open, said physical issues were inevitable in a demanding sport like tennis. His comments came after the 22-year-old Rune was left in tears in Stockholm with a suspected torn Achilles.

"Injuries are going to happen," the 23-year-old Draper said on social media.

"We are pushing our bodies to do things that they aren't supposed to in elite sport. We have so many incredible younger guys on the tour right now and I'm proud to be a part of that.

"However, the tour and the calendar have to adapt if any of us are going to achieve some sort of longevity."

'MORE INJURIES AND BURNOUT'

American Taylor Fritz, who won his Six Kings Slam exhibition match in Riyadh on Saturday after Djokovic retired injured, said Draper was right in seeking change.

"Facts, also seeing more injuries and burnout now than ever before," the world No 4 said.

"Because balls, courts, conditions have slowed down a lot, making the weekly grind even more physically demanding and tough on the body."

Reuters has contacted the ATP Tour for comment.

Women's world No 2 Iga Swiatek said the smart option for her amid a gruelling schedule would be to cut her commitments for the sake of her health.

Carlos Alcaraz agreed with the Pole, but the men's world No 1 later defended his move to play in the lucrative Saudi Arabia exhibition tournament - where the Spaniard was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the final.

"It's not really demanding mentally (compared to) when we're having such long events like two weeks or two and a half weeks," the six-time Grand Slam champion said last week.

The Professional Tennis Players' Association filed a lawsuit against the sport's governing bodies in March, with the advocacy group co-founded by Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil describing the situation with the calendar as "unsustainable".

Felix Auger-Aliassime thanked his new bride after he beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (8/6), 6-2 to lift the Brussels ATP 250 title on Sunday.

The 25-year-old from Quebec won his eighth ATP title here – his third this season after Montpellier and Adelaide.

Neither of these powerful servers conceded a break during the first two sets.

But the Czech Lehecka, who also lost in the final last year, saved two match points in the deciding game of the second set before being broken twice in the final set.

"It’s my first tournament as a married man, and I’m leaving with the trophy — I guess I have to give a bit of credit to my wife for this win," he said after marrying a month ago.

Auger-Aliassime married showjumper Nina Ghaibi in Morocco two weeks after making the quarterfinals of the US Open.

Next up for the winner is the ATP 500 in Basle to try for the world top-8 Masters at the end of the year.

He stands ninth just 340 points behind Lorenzo Musetti, who stands in the eighth qualifying spot for the ATP Finals