Qualifying: Early fireworks
This Saturday marked the start of the qualifying competition, two days before the main draw gets underway.
Promising starts
With the courts at the Plenitude Arena newly decked out in the colours of the Rolex Paris Masters’ 40th anniversary, some of the players competing in this year’s edition have already made their mark.
First up on Court No.1, Mattia Bellucci (No.13) overcame Pablo Carreno Busta, avoiding the potential pitfalls of a deciding set (6-1, 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 35 minutes). After missing out last year, the Italian will discover this second stage of the Paris tournament against Thiago Agustin Tirante (No.3).
Making his debut in the French capital, the Argentine had to battle past Zachary Svajda before prevailing in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in 1 hour and 48 minutes).
A similar story unfolded for his compatriot Juan Manuel Cerundolo (No.5), who had also never previously taken to the courts at the Paris Masters 1000. Facing another American, Aleksandar Kovacevic, the left-hander found the answers he needed to secure victory in 1 hour and 30 minutes (7-6(5), 6-3).
On Sunday, he will face Miomir Kecmanovic (No.8). As in each of the past six seasons, the Serbian is aiming to reach the main draw and made a successful start against a solid James Duckworth (6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in 1 hour and 58 minutes).
Kecmanovic will face a tough challenge against the Argentine, who leads their head-to-head 2-0, although both of those previous meetings came on clay.
Bonzi pulls off the upset
Awarded a wildcard by the French Tennis Federation, Benjamin Bonzi produced an impressive performance against No.2 seed Tallon Griekspoor. Meeting for the first time since 2023, the Frenchman battled all the way, helped by an outstanding serving display (21 aces and 81% of points won behind his first serve), despite dropping the second set in a tie-break (6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 in 2 hours and 9 minutes). As in 2020 and 2023, Nicolas Mahut’s protégé is now aiming to reach the main draw.
To do so, he will have to overcome Yannick Hanfmann, who leads their head-to-head 1-0 after winning their first-round meeting at the Montreal Masters 1000 this summer. The German defeated another French wildcard, young Felix Balshaw, who was making his first appearance in front of the Paris crowd (7-6(3), 6-3 in 1 hour and 26 minutes).
Elsewhere among the French contingent, 2021 quarterfinalist Hugo Gaston bowed out after a hard-fought battle against Vit Kopriva (No.11), losing in straight sets (6-4, 7-6(1) in 1 hour and 52 minutes). The Czech will next face another player making his debut on the hard courts of the French capital, Rinky Hijikata. The Indian Wells round-of-16 player this season defeated Jaime Faria (No.7) in 1 hour and 4 minutes (6-3, 6-4).
The last Frenchman in action, Adrian Mannarino, was beaten by Nuno Borges after 2 hours and 14 minutes (4-6, 6-1, 7-5).
Meanwhile, Tomas Machac produced a particularly solid performance to defeat Martin Landaluce 6-4, 6-3 in 1 hour and 26 minutes. He will face Sebastian Baez (No.1) for a place in the main draw after the Argentine’s victory over Damir Dzumhur (7-6(4), 7-5 in 2 hours and 5 minutes).