With just a pair of 250 tournaments to go before the Nitto ATP Finals, the current top eight is set. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Novak Djokovic have already clinched their spots in the year-end championship. Djokovic punched his ticket to Turin when Grigor Dimitrov lost in the quarterfinals of the Rolex Paris Masters on Friday night.
Dimitrov needed to at least reach the Paris final in order to break into the top eight. However, the 33-year-old Bulgarian fell to 2018 champion Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-3.
Fellow Turin contender Alex de Minaur lost to Holger Rune 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 earlier in the day. De Minaur would have clinched and also climbed to No. 6 in the race with a victory. Nonetheless, it was still a hugely productive week or the 10th-ranked Aussie. By advancing to the quarterfinals he passed Andrey Rublev–who exited in round two–or the all-important No. 8 spot.
Casper Ruud also lost right away in Paris, but he remains in qualifying position at No. 7.
Rune is still in contention, but he will remain outside the top eight even if he lifts the Paris trophy for a second time in his career. The Dane would also have to at least reach the final Metz to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. He will face Alexander Zverev on Saturday, while the other semifinal matchup pits Khachanov against French hope Ugo Humbert.
who’s winning this title?
Kach…he got a good lesson from Draper. In the zone providing he has the energy.
And Kach usually steps up when it matters most. We’ve seen it at grand slams. Just seems to do everything better. Has won this event before.
welp
Djokovic isn’t technically qualified btw. Still needs 55 more points to confirm that status.
Anyway, the winner between rune and zverev will take the title.