Alexander Zverev handed bad news straight after becoming the world number one as Paris draw is made

But after completing the one big feat that had eluded him throughout his entire career, Zverev was handed a tough draw at the upcoming Paris Masters.

Alexander Zverev’s draw at the 2026 Paris Masters

After receiving a bye, in his second-round matchup at the last ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, Zverev will take on either Hubert Hurkacz or Lorenzo Musetti. Musetti recently captured his first title in four years at the Lyon Open and looks to be back to his best.

Should he advance, he could face one of Stefanos Tsitsipas or Learner Tien, both of whom have beaten him in the past. Tsitsipas has a convincing winning record against Zverev, leading the 29-year-old 10-6 in their head-to-head.

Jannik Sinner is set to hire Magnus Norman as his next coach – is this the right move? 🤔

Who would you have hired to be Sinner’s next coach?

In the quarterfinals, Zverev is projected by seeding to play Alex de Minaur, but he could also be pitted against another man who has his number: Novak Djokovic. Djokovic will head into the Paris Masters with extra motivation, as he needs a lengthy run in the French capital to qualify for the ATP Finals.

If Zverev reaches the semifinals in Paris, potential opponents include Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Francisco Cerundolo. The highest-seeded player on the opposite half of the draw is Carlos Alcaraz, who has a slightly more comfortable route to the final compared to Zverev.

Alcaraz will also receive a bye to advance to the second round of the Paris Masters, where he will play either Alex Michelsen or Jiri Lehecka. By seeding, the Spaniard is then set to face Brandon Nakashima in the third round and Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals.

Daniil Medvedev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rafael Jodar and Flavio Cobolli make up potential semifinal opponents, while Zverev would likely be his final task. Zverev and Alcaraz have met once this year, with the sole bout coming in the semifinals of the Australian Open, where the latter came out on top before winning the final against Djokovic to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Alexander Zverev’s previous results at the Paris Masters

Zverev is a former champion at the Paris Masters, having won the title for the first time back in 2024. He dropped just one set en route to the title that year, dominating Ugo Humbert in the final, 6-2, 6-2, to hoist the trophy.

Last season, Zverev reached the semifinals of the tournament, where he suffered a heavy defeat to eventual champion Sinner. Sinner beat Zverev 6-0, 6-1 before triumphing over Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final.

A victorious campaign at the Paris Masters would see Zverev clinch his third title of the season after Roland Garros and the US Open.

Add to Preferred Sources