Paris, 30 October (HIST). World number two Carlos Alcaraz of Spain entered the third round of Paris Masters after defeating Nicolas Jarry of Chile 7-5, 6-1 in the second round on Tuesday. Alcaraz, who had lost at the same stage last year, hit 13 winners and only six unforced errors to easily defeat Jerry.
“It is always difficult to compare my tennis performances every year, but I am in a better place mentally,” Alcaraz said in the post-match press conference. I want to play at my best level in this part of the season. I am motivated to win this tournament and deliver good results. “Last year the court was probably slower, but it’s hard to compare.”
The Spaniard will try to reduce the 4300-point gap with world number one Jannik Sinner, who had withdrawn from the tournament due to the virus.
“When the best player in the world withdraws from a tournament, it's never good news,” Alcaraz said. I won't meet him before the final, but as a tennis fan I would love to see him play.”
With defending champion Novak Djokovic also out of the tournament, French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz will be desperate to win his fifth title this year.
In other matches, Britain's Jack Draper defeated Czech Republic's Jiri Lehka 7-5, 6-2, Denmark's 13th seed Holger Rune defeated Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-4 and Australia's ninth seed Seeded Alex de Minaur defeated Mariano Navone 7-5, 6-1.
Other seeded players to bow out of the indoor tournament were Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev, who was defeated by Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(6), 7-6(5), and 14th seed Frances Tiafoe was defeated by Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Péricard 6-6. Defeated -7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3.
In later matches, 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece recorded a comfortable 6–3, 6–4 win over Alejandro Tebilo, before Australian Jordan Thompson defeated seventh seed Casper Ruud 7–6(3), 3–6, Defeated 6-4.