Paris Masters Preview: Singles

The Paris Masters is the last Masters 1000 tournament of the year, a men’s only event representing the last chance at securing a spot in the tour finals. Many of the world’s best attend and the recent winners have been a mixture of surprising dark horses and strong favourites, but who will win this year?

Previous winners

Daniil Medvedev (2)

Daniil Medvedev after winning the US Open

-Russia

-24 years old

-World number two

-US Open winner (2021)

-2020 victory against Zverev in the final

-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells to Dimitrov, complaining about fatigue

-Already Qualified for Tour Finals

-Resting

Novak Djokovic (1)

Novak Djokovic at the 2019 Paris Masters

-Serbia

-34 years old

-World number one

-20 grand slams (9x AUS, 2xRG, 6x Wim, 3x US)

-Five Paris Masters victories: in 2019 against Shapovalov, in 2015 against Murray, in 2014 against Roanic, in 2013 against Ferrer, in 2009 against Monfils.

-Six Finals, lost to Khachanov in 2018

-First competed in 2005

-Strong season, three slam victories and a final

-Hasn’t played since US Open

-Already qualified for Tour Finals

-May have recovered from fatigue

-One of the favourites

Karen Khachanov 

Karen Khachanov with the 2018 Paris masters trophy

-Russia

-25 years old

-World number 30

-Two-time grand slam quarterfinalist in the 2019 French Open, and 2021 Wimbledon.

-One Paris Masters victory in 2018 against Djokovic in the final.

-First competed in 2017

-Mixed Season, Olympic silver, quarterfinal in Wimbledon

-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells to Basilashvili

-Cannot qualify for tour finals

-Outsider on decent form

Jack Sock

Jack Sock at the 2018 Paris Masters

-USA

-29 years old

-Outside top 100

-Three time grand slam doubles champion in 2014 Wimbledon, 2018 Wimbledon and 2018 US Open

-One Paris Masters victory in 2017 against Krajinovic

-First competed in 2014

-Hasn’t quite captured the singles form of 2017, though Sock has won one doubles tournament this year

-Out in the first round of Indian Wells to Millman

-Would be a surprise beyond the second round

-Not on current player list

Andy Murray (WC)

Murray at the 2021 US Open

-Great Britain

-34 years old

-Outside top 100

-Three grand slams (2xWim, 1xUS), plus two Olympic golds

-One Paris Masters victory in 2016 against Isner

-Two finals, lost to Djokovic in 2015

-First competed in 2006

-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Zverev

-Can beat the best players, just struggling to put together a deep tournament run

-Seems to be playing at around a top 20 level, could make a good run depending on the draw 

-Received a wildcard

Roger Federer

Roger Federer at the 2018 Paris Masters

-Switzerland

-40 years old

-World number 15

-20 grand slams (6x AUS, 1x RG, 8x Wim, 5x US)

-One Paris Masters victory in 2011 against Tsonga

-First competed in 2000

-Knee injury, hasn’t played since Wimbledon

-Won’t compete

Previous Finalists

Alexander Zverev (4)

Alexander Zverev at the 2019 Paris Masters

-Germany

-24 years old

-World number four

-US Open Finalist (2020)

-One Paris Masters final in 2020 lost to Medvedev

-First played in 2017

-Made the quarterfinal of Indian Wells, but lost to Fritz

-Decent form, potential fatigue

-Strong favourite

Denis Shapovalov 

Denis Shapovalov at the 2019 Paris Masters

-Canada

-22 years old

-World number 13

-Wimbledon semifinalist (2021)

-One Paris Masters final in 2019, lost to Djokovic

-First played in 2017

-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Karatsev

-not on great form

-Unlikely to replicate former success, but don’t count him out

Filip Krajinovic

Filip Krajinovic at the 2021 Australian Open

-Serbia

-29 years old

-World number 40

-Not much grand slam success

-One Paris Masters final in 2019, lost to Sock

-First played in 2017

-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Medvedev

-not on great form

-Unlikely to go far into the tournament

John Isner 

John Isner at the 2019 US Open

-USA

-36 years old

-World number 26

-2018 Wimbledon semifinalist

-One Paris Masters final in 2018, lost to Murray

-First played in 2009

-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Sinner

-Poor form

Milos Raonic 

Milos Raonic at the 2021 Australian Open

-Canada

-30 years old

-World number 47

-2016 Wimbledon finalist

-One Paris Masters final in 2014, lost to Djokovic

-First played in 2011

-Poor season, struggling with injury

Gael Monfils (16)

Gael Monfils at the 2019 Paris Masters

-France

-35 years old

-World number 21

-Two time grand slam semifinalist 

-Two Paris Masters finals, lost to Soderling in 2010, lost to Djokovic in 2009

-First played in 2004

-Out in fourth round of Indian Wells to Zverev

-Decent season

-Should finish somewhere from the third round to the quarterfinal

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal at the 2019 Paris Masters

-Spain

-35 years old

-World number five

-20 grand slams (1x AUS, 13x RG, 2x Wim, 4x US)

-One Paris Masters final in 2007, lost to Nalbandian

-First competed in 2003

-Foot injury

-Won’t compete

Top 10 players

Stefanos Tsitsipas (3)

Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2019 Paris Masters

-Greece

-23 years old

-World number three

-Roland Garros Finalist (2021)

-One Paris Masters quarterfinal in 2019, lost to Djokovic

-First played in 2018

-Made the quarterfinal at Indian Wells, lost to Basilashvili

-Average form

-Outsider favourite

Andrey Rublev (5)

Andrey Rublev at the 2021 US Open

-Russia

-24 years old

-World number six

-Reached four grand slam quarter finals

-Never gone beyond the third round

-First played in 2017

-Out in the third round of Indian Wells, lost to Paul

-Poor form

-Outsider

Matteo Berrettini (6)

Matteo Berrettini at the 2021 US Open

-Italy

-25 years old

-world number seven

-Wimbledon finalist (2021)

-Never gone beyond the second round

-First played in 2019

-Out in the third round of Indian Wells, lost to Fritz

-Average form

-Outsider

Casper Ruud (7)

Casper Ruud at the 2021 US Open

-Norway

-22 years old

-World number eight

-Not much grand slam success

-Never gone past round one

-First played in 2019

-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells, lost to Schwatzman

-Decent form

-Outsider

Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem at the 2018 Paris Masters

-Austria

-28 years old

-World number nine

-One grand slam (US Open 2020)

-One Paris Masters semifinal in 2018, lost to Khachanov

-First competed in 2014

-Wrist injury this year

-Won’t compete

Hubert Hurkacz (8)

Hubert Hurkacz at the 2021 Indian Wells

-Poland

-24 years old

-World number ten

-Wimbledon semifinalist (2021)

-Never been beyond round one

-First competed in 2019

-Made the quarterfinal at Indian Wells, lost to Dimitrov

-Average form

-Outsider

Indian Wells Success Stories

Cameron Norrie (11)

Cameron Norrie after winning the 2021 Indian Wells

-Great Britain

-26 years old

-World number 14

-Not much grand slam success

-Never been beyond round one

-First competed 2019

-Won Indian Wells, beating Basilashvili

-Good form

-Outsider

Nikoloz Basilashvili

Nikoloz Basilashvili at the 2021 US Open

-Georgia

-29 years old

-World number 25

-Not much grand slam success

-Never been beyond round two

-First competed in 2016

-Made the final in Indian Wells, lost to Norrie

-Good form

-Outsider

Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov at the 2018 Paris Masters

-Bulgaria

-30 years old

-World number 22

-Three grand slam semifinals (AU 2017, Wim 2014, US 2019)

-One Paris Masters semifinal in 2019, lost to Djokovic

-First competed in 2012

-Made the semifinal at Indian Wells, lost to Norrie

-Good form

-Outsider

Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz at the 2021 US Open

-USA

-23 years old

-World number 28

-Not much grand slam success

-Never beyond round two

-First competed in 2016

-Made the semifinal at Indian Wells, lost to Basilashvili

-Good form

-Outsider

Bill Scott

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