Paris Masters: Alexander Zverev surges past Holger Rune to reach final

Favourite for the title this weekend, Alexander Zverev is showing why as he has reached the final of the 2024 Paris Masters overcoming former champion Holger Rune to end the Dane's faint hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.

Zverev sealed it 6-3, 7-6 in the end recovering from failing to serve it out at 5-4 in the second set and resisting what was a late fightback from Rune to claim the win after just under two hours. It has been a superb season for Zverev as he only sits just behind Jannik Sinner for the most victories on tour this season. He also will start next week again as World No.2 no matter what happens.

It is also a 12th Masters 1000 final for Zverev who faces either Karen Khachanov or Ugo Humbert tomorrow in a match that he is expected to be favourite in no matter who comes through later this evening.

Albeit he has never won in Paris losing to Daniil Medvedev back in 2020, but it could be a seventh ATP 1000 crown and a first hard-court trophy since 2021 when he won the ATP Finals on a level past ATP 250 properly ushering in his return. He led Rune 5-3 in the second set and looked to be on his way to an easy win but the Dane held serve and then broke Zverev's serve for the first time in the match when trailing 4-5. Rune then held in 12 minutes but Zverev refused to let it go and sealed the win.

Zverev hit 25 winners and won 84% of his first serve points in the match and forced a tie-break sealing the win to advance through.

"I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself but he is a champion. It is probably his favourite tournament and favourite court, but I am happy to be in my second final here," Zverev said. "I am looking forward to it."