Paris Masters 2024: French flourish as Fils and Mpetshi Perricard rise to the occasion, Gasquet bids Bercy adieu

It has been a day to remember for the French as the two main talents to anchor the future of the sport in the country have continued to showcase their talents at the Paris Masters. Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard continued their form on Tuesday.

Fils overcame Marin Cilic to become the youngest home start to record a main-draw win at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament since Richard Gasquet in 2006 who bid adieu to the tournament on Tuesday. He won 7-6(5), 6-4.

He rallied back from a break down at 5-6 in the first set and upped the anti from there as he hit 11 winners in the set to record the win. No Frenchman has recorded more wins in 2024 than Fils. He sits on 36, while Humbert is second on 35. Fils has won titles in Hamburg and Tokyo this season and now faces Jan-Lennard Struff.

While Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard continued his red hot form days after winning Swiss Indoors Basel. He saw off Frances Tiafoe in one of the ties of the round 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3. He hit 28 aces in his two hour, five minute win and has surpassed 500 aces so far this season. He will face Karen Khachanov next who downed Christopher O'Connell.

Earlier Struff downed Musetti 6-4, 6-2 ending the Italian's hopes of ATP Finals qualification. While Hubert Hurkacz's hopes were disposed of as he lost out to rising American, Alex Michelsen 6-1, 6-3. The latter who sits just behind Fils in the Race to Jeddah has had a superb opening year on the tour. Holger Rune also swept aside Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-4.

Richard Gasquet's final Paris Masters also concluded. He lost out to Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4. He will only return to Paris once more for his final tournament ever at the 2025 French Open so it is farewell to Bercy. One of his best stomping grounds and one where he was given the send-off he deserves.