World number two Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he was "not up to the level" after a defeat to Ugo Humbert saw him crash out of the Paris Masters in the third round. 

Humbert, ranked 18th in the world, posted a 6-1 3-6 7-5 win against the second seed in two hours 17 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in the French capital. 

"It was a very intense match. I started with some doubts about my game," said 21-year-old Alcaraz after the surprise defeat. 

"Against a player who attacks whenever he can, who hits very aggressively at the slightest opportunity, it wasn't easy to get into the match.

"I was not up to the level he displayed. Ugo's performance was really high. The way he hits the ball is incredible."

Alcaraz had his sights set on a fifth title of the season in Paris but will move on to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next, with the season finale to be played from November 10 to 17. 

Humbert, meanwhile, will continue his hunt in the Paris Masters as he preps up to battle Australia's Jordan Thompson for a spot in the semi-finals. 

World number two Carlos Alcaraz crashed out of the Paris Masters after an upset at the hands of 15th seed Ugo Humbert in the third round. 

Alcaraz was aiming for a fifth title of the season in the French capital, but it was the world number 18 who emerged as 6-1 3-6 7-5 winner in two hours 17 minutes. 

The Spaniard had no answer for Humbert in the first set, but fought back to level the proceedings in the second. 

The third set was a tight affair, but it was 26-year-old Humbert who prevailed to take it 7-5 and reach the last eight at the ATP Masters 1000 event. 

Humbert, looking for his third title of the season, will next face Australia’s Jordan Thompson, who progressed to the quarter-final by defeating Adrian Mannarino. 

Alexei Popyrin upset fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev at the Paris Masters to continue his fine year on the ATP Tour, securing his third career win over a top five opponent.

Popyrin, who improved to 26-21 for 2024 with his latest win, emerged a 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-4) victor in just under two-and-a-half hours in the French capital. 

The Australian, however, started poorly in the first set, with Medvedev earning an early break in the third game, only for Popyrin to claim the next three in a row. 

Popyrin then missed four chances to close out the eighth game, but held his nerve to take the opener despite some late pressure from his Russian opponent. 

But Medvedev responded emphatically in the second, managing back-to-back break points before taking the enthralling encounter to a decider. 

The pair continued to trade blows in the third set and could not be separated, with a tie-break deciding who would face either Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Karen Khachanov in the last 16. 

Popyrin let slip a 4-1 lead in the deciding set, but held his nerve to deal Medvedev his third consecutive opening round loss in Paris. 

Data Debrief: Popping in Paris

Popyrin finally got the better of Medvedev, having lost his previous three matches against him at Wimbledon in 2019, the Australian Open in 2020 and the Miami Open in 2021. 

In defeating Medvedev, Popyrin is the second Australian after Mark Philippoussis to register multiple wins against a top-five player at the Paris Masters. 

The Australian had previously beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021, who was ranked as the world number three.

Jannik Sinner has confirmed his withdrawal from the Paris Masters after contracting a virus ahead of the ATP Masters 1000 event. 

Sinner, who has won a Tour-leading seven titles in 2024, will not be making his fourth appearance at the tournament in the French capital.

The Italian guaranteed his spot at the summit of the ATP world rankings earlier this month, with only two players in history having done so quicker.

Sinner is the second high-profile player to pull out of the final Masters 1000 event of the year, following seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

“It's a very tough announcement. I'm not going to play here in Paris. We came here very early to prepare in the best possible way," Sinner posted on Instagram.

"After the first practice session, I really didn't felt good. I also talked with the doctor on Sunday. It's a virus, what makes you feel better in three or four days.

“Today I feel better already a little bit, but the body is not ready to compete and I still feel very, very weak.

"It doesn't make sense to go on court and try to compete for this tournament. [I am very] disappointed because it's a tournament where I would like to see where my level is at.

"That was one of my main goals for this week. But unfortunately I cannot make this happen.”

Frenchman Arthur Cazaux has received a lucky loser spot and will face Ben Shelton or Corentin Moutet in the second round.

Holger Rune was on the end of an upset as he lost 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

Mpetshi Perricard has soared into the top 50 after starting the year ranked at 205, and the Frenchman was on top form against his fellow youngster on Saturday.

He served 17 aces to get the better of Rune and tee up a final against American Ben Shelton.

"It's amazing to be in the final. I played a good match today. It was difficult against Holger, but I found the key to win this match," said Mpetshi Perricard.

"Inside of me there was a lot of emotion, but I tried to calm it down. It's nice to be in the final and I hope to get the win."

Shelton, meanwhile, beat Arthur Fils 6-3 7-6 (11-9).

At the Vienna Open, Jack Draper ensured his place in the top 15 of the ATP rankings and reach the first ATP 500 final of his career by overcoming Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 6-4.

Musetti downed favourite Alexander Zverev to reach the last four, but the Italian was no match for Draper, despite the Briton letting a 4-2 lead slip in the second set.

"I thought the first set was a really high level from my side," said Draper.

"Lorenzo is a really tough competitor. I've known him since I was really young and playing against him is always so difficult. He's had an incredible season.

"The second set was really up and down. There were some long points and definitely some nerves and difficult moments, but I'm really proud of the way I kept on fighting and kept on going. In the end I got it done."

Karen Khachanov will be Draper's opponent in the final, after the Russian overcame Alex De Minaur.

Lorenzo Musetti described his triumph over Alexander Zverev as "a pretty big win" as the Italian battled from the brink to advance to the Erste Bank Open semi-finals. 

Musetti, who will now face Jack Draper in the final four, found himself 3-0 down in a second-set tie-break before roaring back to claim a 2-6, 6-5 (7-5) 6-4 victory.

In an absorbing clash with Zverev, who was the top seed in Vienna, Musetti showcased his class in the decider, ending the almost three-hour clash with a love service game. 

The 22-year-old struck 35 winners and saved eight out of 12 break points he faced en route to earning the biggest hard-court win of his career against the 2021 Vienna champion. 

“It didn’t start how we planned, I was struggling to find the right balance with my forehand and the variation of my backhand,” said Musetti. 

“But I stayed there, even when he came back in the second, I saved a lot of break points at 5-5. It’s definitely a match that means a lot to me.

“It’s a pretty big win [in my career], because Sascha really loves to play here, on this court, in these conditions.

"But, after the first round, I was feeling in good shape and today I showed that.”

Novak Djokovic has confirmed his withdrawal from next week's Paris Masters.

The 24-time major winner announced via his social media channels he will not be participating in the ATP Masters event at Paris-Bercy, where he is a seven-time champion.

Djokovic was a gold medal winner at the Paris Olympics in August, while he has already reached finals at Wimbledon and Shanghai this season, in which he has a 37-9 record.

The Serb featured in last week's inaugural 6 Kings Slam in Riyadh, where he finished in third place after defeating long-time rival Rafael Nadal.

"Unfortunately I won't be playing @rolexparismasters this year," he wrote on Instagram Stories. 

"Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me play there. Wishing all the players, sponsors, organisers and fans a great tournament. I have a lot of great memories winning seven titles there and hope to be back with you next year."

Jannik Sinner mounted yet another comeback to overcome Carlos Alcaraz in three sets and become the inaugural winner of the 6 Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.

It is the fourth time the two have met this year, and Sinner triumphed for the first time, winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3 on Saturday.

Sinner started brightly, taking a 4-1 lead in the first set, but was unable to hold onto his advantage as Alcaraz levelled the score before serving to love to force the tie-break.

The Spaniard let his lead slip twice but held on to take the first set, only to find himself on the backfoot once more in the second.

Sinner pulled ahead but was dragged back again, though was ready for the battle this time, breaking Alcaraz’s serve three times to force the decider.

Another three-game winning streak in the final set proved enough for the Italian to avenge his China Open defeat and claim a long-awaited win over Alcaraz.

Data Debrief: Sinner gets his revenge

This match will not go towards the pair's ATP head-to-head record, but it is a welcome win for Sinner, who has struggled to get the better of Alcaraz in 2024.

After losing at Indian Wells and the French Open earlier this year, Sinner also lost the China Open final, despite taking the first set in that match. 

But this time, he was the one coming from behind, just as he has so often in recent weeks, as the 23-year-old took the crown.

Rafael Nadal said Novak Djokovic had helped push him beyond his limits for 15 years after losing one final clash with the Serbian at the 6 Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.

Djokovic and Nadal met in the third-place play-off at the inaugural event in Riyadh, having lost their respective semi-finals against Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.

Nadal, who will hang up his racket after the Davis Cup Finals next month, was beaten 6-2 7-6 (7-5) by his great rival in his final match at an individual event.

The duo – who made up two-thirds of tennis' 'Big Three' alongside Roger Federer – have won 46 grand slam singles titles between them and met in 60 ATP Tour-recognised matches, with Djokovic winning 31 to Nadal's 29. 

Djokovic is also the only player to ever defeat Nadal at all four grand slams. 

Speaking after Saturday's match, an emotional Nadal thanked Djokovic for the role he played in his glittering career, saying: "Novak, you helped me go over my limits for 15 years.

"I would probably not be the player I am without you. I wish you the best of luck for the future."

When asked what he will miss most after his retirement, Nadal added: "Almost everything.

"It has been a dream come true to be able to play for almost 20 years, being competitive, having the chance to play in the best places in the world, which I watched on TV as a kid.

"I cannot thank you enough for the support and love I have received all around. It was an amazing journey at every single tournament over the years. I feel very fortunate to be a tennis player."

Djokovic, who also defeated Nadal at the Paris Olympic Games at the Spaniard's favoured Roland-Garros venue in July, then outlined his hope that his rival will not turn his back on the sport entirely.

"I don't know where to start with Rafa," Djokovic said. "An amazing career. I could speak all night. It has been an honour to share the court with you.

"I go back to the very first match we played and who would know we would be standing here almost 20 years later, playing 60 times. I have the utmost respect for you. Incredible athlete, incredible person.

"The rivalry has been incredible, very intense, so I hope we will have the chance to sit on the bench somewhere, have a drink and reflect.

"I know how much sacrifice there has been. It is an emotional day, so don't leave tennis, man! Stay with us! You have left an amazing legacy."

Nadal will be part of the Spain team that faces the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Final 8 on November 19, with a semi-final matchup against Germany or Canada on the line.

Rafael Nadal is looking forward to playing Novak Djokovic one last time when they meet in the third-place play-off of the 6 Kings Slam exhibition event on Saturday.

The Spaniard lost to his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets on Thursday and was applauded off after the defeat in what is his penultimate tournament.

However, it has teed up one final meeting between the great rivals, who are the only male players to have faced each other 60 times in the Open Era.

They last met in the second round at the Paris Olympics, with the Serb coming out on top, earning his 31st win despite Nadal's late fightback.

At the time, that looked to be their last dance, but Nadal is excited to go head-to-head with him once again.

"To have Novak in front [of me], it's like a nostalgic thing," said Nadal, who has won 29 of his 60 meetings with Djokovic.

"Playing against Novak has always been a big challenge, [he is] a great rival. He is a player who has always pushed me to the highest level, taken me to the limit.

"We've played each other a lot, so it'll be fun to play each other again one more time in this match. Hopefully, we can create a good show and good level of entertainment."

Nadal will play his final tournament at the Davis Cup Finals next month, where he will represent Spain in Malaga.

It will mark the end of a glittering career in which he won 22 singles grand slam titles, with only Margaret Court, Novak Djokovic (24 each), and Serena Williams (23) winning more across the ATP and WTA.

The 38-year-old also ended 13 different years in the top two of the ATP World Rankings, more than any other player throughout the Open Era.

Nadal is set to play in the doubles at the Davis Cup but is still undecided whether or not he will compete in the singles.

"Emotionally, I'm sure I'll be ready. Physically and in terms of tennis level, there remains a month left to prepare," he added.

"I will try to be in good shape to help the team to win. If I don't feel ready for the singles, I'll be the first one to say.

"Be 100% sure, I will not be on court if I don't feel ready to win my match."

Michael Chang is confident men's tennis is in good hands with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, following confirmation of Rafael Nadal's retirement.

Nadal will feature at the Davis Cup Finals for Spain before ending his glittering career next month, becoming the latest of the "Big Four" to walk away from the court. 

Roger Federer called time on his career in 2022, while Andy Murray retired after the Paris Olympics earlier this year. 

While Novak Djokovic – who is one win away from claiming a 100th Tour-level title – remains the last active player from that iconic quartet, Chang is delighted with the next generation.

"I think it's pretty clear at this point, if you look at the matches of both Alcaraz and Sinner, their games are dominating," 1989 French Open winner Chang told Stats Perform. 

"Novak is still playing great tennis and to be able to win the Olympic Games is huge. You know he will still continue to fight for grand slam titles, but the games of these younger players and their confidence on court suggest they will be around for a while, barring any injuries.

"Jannik and Carlos have learned from the previous generation, they learned what it takes to go out and play unbelievable tennis.

"Carlos talks about how he watched these players growing up, how he has learned from them and taken their best qualities to improve his own game, which is very evident.

"They've inspired the younger generation and are well-liked off the court as well.

"Fans can relate to them, they're very humble in nature yet competitive on the court, which is a continuation of that kind of atmosphere and attitude that is really wonderful for our sport of tennis."

Sinner's triumph at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday saw him claim his place at the top of the ATP year-end world rankings, with only Djokovic and Nadal doing so quicker in a season since the modification of those rankings in 2009.

The Italian has won 65 of his 71 Tour-level matches this year, claiming seven trophies, including the Australian Open and US Open.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, won the other two grand slams. 

The Spaniard has won all three of his meetings with Sinner this season, and Chang believes this is only the start of a blossoming rivalry that will go beyond the sport as a whole.

"I think they've already begun to do that. Carlos, in particular, is involved in many non-tennis-related activities and I think that will be pretty commonplace for them," Chang added.

"They're young and vibrant, with interests outside tennis, which is great to see.

"I don't think they'll get side-tracked like some players who have done really well in tennis, and then all of a sudden have this modelling contract over here or this and that over there and then all of a sudden, where did their tennis go?

"I don't see that happening with Alcaraz and Sinner. They seem disciplined, focused, and one-track-minded, but they won't shy away from being involved in other pursuits.

"I think they will keep that focus and will be good for our sport."

Rafael Nadal's dominance on the clay courts remains "unfathomable" and will not be matched in our lifetime, says former French Open champion Michael Chang.

Chang is still the youngest man to win a singles major, doing so aged 17 years and 109 days at the 1989 French Open, but the former professional believes no one will come close to the retiring Nadal.

The Spaniard will bring an end to his storied career after next month's Davis Cup Finals on home soil in Malaga, having managed 22 grand slam titles in total.

A remarkable 14 of those came at the French Open, the most of any player at a single major in history, and Chang cannot see another competitor getting close to Nadal's exploits.

Asked by Stats Perform if another player can dominate like Nadal at Roland-Garros, Chang said: "It's difficult to say. I don't think we'll see anyone as dominant as Rafa on clay in our lifetime.

"His record is unbelievable. For him to win 14 French Opens is unfathomable."

Nadal's unbelievable 96.6% win rate at the French Open (112 wins from 116 matches) is the best of any player at a grand slam event in men's singles.

Indeed, only Novak Djokovic (twice), Robin Soderling and Alexander Zverev have ever beaten the 38-year-old at the tournament.

His 14-0 record in Roland-Garros finals is also the best recorded by anyone at an event in the Open Era, with Chang lauding his dominance on clay, as well as his adaptability on other surfaces.

"He grew up playing on clay in Spain, and being a lefty, for him to know the angles and calculations better than anyone else," Chang added.

"What's amazing is that he's been able to take that style of play and modify it for success on grass and hard courts.

"We've had great clay-court players who couldn't translate that success to other surfaces, but Rafa is not one of them.

"His volleying skills are among the best on tour, which you wouldn't normally say about other Spanish players, except for [Carlos] Alcaraz now."

Only three tournaments have been won more than 10 times by the same player in the Open Era – Roland-Garros (14), Barcelona (12) and Monte-Carlo (11), all by Nadal on the clay.

For that reason, Chang believes Nadal's legacy will leave a long-lasting impression on those who witnessed his greatness on the French clay.

"It is incredible what he has done at the French Open and his passion and love for winning there is incredible. His record speaks for itself," Chang concluded.

Michael Chang feels Rafael Nadal knew the time was right to move on after confirming his impending retirement.

Nadal announced last week that he would call time on his glittering playing career after the Davis Cup Finals, which will take place in Malaga next month.

The 38-year-old, who has won 22 grand slam titles, with his last coming at Roland-Garros in 2022, has struggled with injury in recent seasons, and has not played a singles match since losing to old foe Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics.

Chang, who is the youngest man in history to win a singles major, having clinched the 1989 French Open at the age of 17 years and 109 days, believes Nadal has made the right call.

He told Stats Perform: "I think we all knew he was nearing the end of his career. With the injuries he's had over the past couple of years, he knew it was coming sooner rather than later.

"To be honest, we would have thought that this generation, between Roger [Federer], Rafa, Andy [Murray], and Novak would have retired a few years ago, but their love for the sport is truly amazing.

"Their dedication and competitive spirit really kept them out there for so long, still competing at an extremely high level. It's one thing to be out there and just chugging along, but these guys are still winning grand slams and vying for grand slams.

"Roger and Rafa did it for so long, and obviously, Novak's still going, it's incredible. Rafa has accomplished everything you could in the sport of tennis, and he's unbelievably well-respected in every regard, whether you're a tennis fan or not.

"You would never want to see a champion like that go, but it’s time to move on. You can't play at this level forever, but the times we've had to enjoy him on tour and witness so many unbelievable matches around the world, it's certainly been a joy to watch and witness."

Djokovic (24) is the only man to win more major titles than Nadal, who has won a record 14 French Open crowns.

And while Chang is unsure if Nadal ranks as the greatest of all time, the 52-year-old believes other factors than grand slam titles must come into consideration.

"I think for him to be known as one of the greatest tennis players that we've ever seen is special," Chang added.

"I think there's no question that Novak, as far as results go and titles go and grand slam titles go, there's no question that his results stand above everybody else, but when we think about these great champions, you think about their admirable qualities.

"Rafa's grit, heart, forehand, his ability to move and get around, the mental toughness in intense situations, is remarkable.

"Those are the things we'll remember about him as a tennis player. His interactions with fans and fellow players also show he's extremely well-respected. Those are the qualities we will always remember. I hope he stays involved in the tennis scene because he'll always be a great ambassador for the sport."

When it comes to Nadal's legacy, Chang believes the Spaniard's character is what sets him apart.

He said: "That's one of the reasons he's so admired. All tennis players want to do well; they want to reach number one and win grand slam tournaments, but some players have a more selfish mentality and don't care much about others or what they think.

"Rafa is not like that. He takes time to give back, he takes time for fans, and he appreciates people coming to watch him play. He has a ton of respect for everyone he comes in contact with and because of the way he's conducted himself on and off the court, people admire him as more than just a tennis player.

"Look at what he's done for Spanish tennis, he's inspired the next generations and embraced them. He's been nothing but complimentary towards this new generation of players, like Carlos Alcaraz leading the way."

Jannik Sinner confirmed his place at the top of the ATP year-end world rankings, with only two players in history having done so quicker.

Sinner had actually sealed his spot at the summit with his semi-final victory over Tomas Machac before defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday.

On the back of his title run, Sinner – who picked up 910 points to move to a grand total of 11,920 – has opened up an unassailable 4,800-point lead over Carlos Alcaraz in the standings.

And only Djokovic and the soon-to-be-retired Nadal have managed to seal the year-end number-one spot earlier in a season than Sinner, since the ATP rankings were modified in 2009.

Djokovic was crowned as 2015's year-end number one on September 14, while Nadal secured that position for the 2010 rankings on October 9 of that year.

Sinner has won 65 of his 71 Tour-level matches this year, and claimed seven trophies, including the Australian Open and US Open.

The 23-year-old is the 19th player to claim the year-end world number-one ranking and just the fourth active player, joining Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz.

He has already held top spot for 17 weeks, and ranks 18th among the 29 players who have reached world number one for weeks spent at the top of the pile.

Nick Kyrgios is planning to make a comeback in December and has ambitions to win a grand slam in order to "shut up" his doubters.

The Australian has suffered with wrist, knee and foot injuries over the last two years, playing just one ATP Tour singles match in that period.

He lost in straight sets on that occasion to Wu Yibing in Stuttgart in June 2023 and has not played since.

Though he has hinted at retirement in the past, he is now planning for his return at the World Tennis League event in Abu Dhabi later this year before the Australian Open in January.

He has previously reached one grand slam final in singles, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2022, and Kyrgios has a clear plan of what he wants to come out of his return to the sport.

"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," he told News Corp's Code Sports podcast.

"I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a grand slam, won a doubles title in a grand slam, won multiple titles and made money.

"But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a grand slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.

"That'll be my deep motivation."

Kyrgios earned a reputation for his outbursts and meltdowns early on in his career, with some writing him off due to his temperament.

However, the 29-year-old has brushed off the idea that he was a "bad boy".

"I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said.

"I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."