PARIS — Stefanos Tsitsipas battled through an upset stomach to secure a hard-fought victory against Roberto Carballes Baena, overcoming an initial set loss to triumph 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the prestigious Paris Masters on Monday, keeping his hopes alive for a coveted spot in the season-ending ATP finals.
Having reached the semifinals in Paris for the past two consecutive years, Tsitsipas faces the pressing need for another deep run in this tournament to enhance his chances of qualifying for the ATP finals, which will showcase the elite top eight players in Turin next month.
Tsitsipas candidly mentioned that his stomach issues presented a “second battle” alongside facing his opponent, highlighting the mental struggle of competing under such discomfort.
“I couldn’t even pump myself up at the beginning of the match, because when something is bothering you that much, it takes your entire concentration and focus,” Tsitsipas explained, revealing just how much his physical condition affected his mental readiness for the match.
Meanwhile, American Tommy Paul’s aspirations for qualifying for Turin came to an abrupt end as he fell to French veteran Adrian Mannarino, losing in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
Earlier in the day, local favorite Hugo Humbert displayed resilience as he engaged in a grueling battle lasting over two hours to edge out the 35th-ranked Brandon Nakashima with a scoreline of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
In a match filled with tension, Humbert persevered through two critical break points in the deciding set, extending his impressive unbeaten record against Nakashima to 3-0. He is now set to face off against another American, Marcos Giron, who secured his place in the next round after a nail-biting victory over Shang Juncheng, winning in two closely contested sets 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6).
Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor also advanced to the next stage with a confident 6-3, 6-4 victory over Luciano Darderi, and is now preparing to challenge third-seeded Alexander Zverev in the second round. Furthermore, Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina clinched a win against Zhang Zhizhen with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (6), setting the stage for a matchup against Grigor Dimitrov in the following round.
Among those progressing Monday were also the talented Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, French player Arthur Rinderknech, and Australian star Jordan Thompson, showcasing a diverse mix of competitors making their mark in the tournament.
Notably, defending champion Novak Djokovic is opting to sit out this year’s event, leaving the spotlight to Jannik Sinner, who has already secured his position as the top seed at the Paris tournament and is guaranteed to end the year atop the ATP rankings.
Sinner, along with Carlos Alcaraz, Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev, has already locked in his spot at the highly anticipated ATP finals taking place from Nov. 10-17, further intensifying the competition at this year’s Paris Masters.
**Interview with Stefanos Tsitsipas After His First-Round Victory at the Paris Masters**
**Editor:** Stefanos, congratulations on your hard-fought victory today! We heard you had to battle through an upset stomach. Can you tell us how that affected your performance on the court?
**Tsitsipas:** Thank you! It was definitely a challenging match for me. The stomach issues felt like a second battle alongside playing against Roberto. At the beginning, I found it hard to pump myself up; discomfort like that really drains your concentration and focus. I had to dig deep to push through, especially after losing the first set.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the physical discomfort impacted your mental readiness. How did you manage to regain your focus as the match progressed?
**Tsitsipas:** I had to remind myself to stay in the moment. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to turn it around. I focused on my breathing and tried to stay positive. Each point became a new opportunity to reset. Once I found a rhythm, I could block out the discomfort a bit more.
**Editor:** With this win, you keep your hopes alive for qualifying for the ATP finals in Turin. How crucial is this tournament for you in that regard?
**Tsitsipas:** It’s critical. I’ve made it to the semifinals here in the past two years, so I have a bit of a reputation to uphold! I really need to make a deep run to enhance my chances of qualifying. Every match matters, and victories like today give me a boost of confidence.
**Editor:** Next up, you’ll be facing a new opponent. How do you approach preparing for someone new in such a high-stakes tournament?
**Tsitsipas:** I always try to focus more on my own game and what I can control rather than getting caught up in my opponent’s strengths. We’ll review their play style, but for me, it’s essential to bring my best to the court. Consistency is key, and I believe if I can play at my best, it puts me in a great position.
**Editor:** Thank you for your time, Stefanos! Best of luck in the next round.
**Tsitsipas:** Thank you! I appreciate it.
I had to really zone in on each point and take it one step at a time. I reminded myself of the bigger picture – qualifying for the ATP finals is so important for me. I just tried to stay positive and shift my focus away from what was bothering me physically. Each game was a chance to reset my mindset and concentrate solely on the match. Eventually, I found a rhythm that helped me push through despite the discomfort.
**Editor:** You’ve made it to the semifinals here for the past two years. Does that add extra pressure to perform well in this tournament as you aim for the finals in Turin?
**Tsitsipas:** Absolutely, there’s always a bit of pressure playing in a prestigious tournament like this, especially with all that’s at stake. I feel that pressure, but it also drives me. Knowing that I’ve done well here before motivates me to perform at my best. I know I need a deep run to qualify, and having a couple of tough matches like today’s helps build my confidence for what’s ahead.
**Editor:** Looking forward in the tournament, how do you feel about your next potential match-ups?
**Tsitsipas:** I’m ready to face whoever comes my way. Every match at this level is tough, but I can’t afford to look too far ahead. I’ll take it one match at a time, focusing on my game and adapting to my opponents. It’s all about staying mentally sharp and physically prepared.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Stefanos, and best of luck with the rest of the tournament!
**Tsitsipas:** Thank you! I appreciate it.