Carlos Alcaraz beaten on return from injury by qualifier Roman Safiullin in Paris Masters second-round shock

ByLewis Mason

Updated 31/10/2023 at 23:08 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the Swiss Indoors in Basel due to foot and back injuries but returned to action in Paris with the goal of ending the season as world No.1. The Spaniard trained with Novak Djokovic in the build-up to the tournament. Safiullin came through three rounds of qualifying in order to reach the main draw and he went on to earn the biggest win of his career to date.

Carlos Alcaraz's return to action ended in a surprise straight-sets defeat to qualifier Roman Safiullin in the second round of the Paris Masters.

The Spaniard - who had said he has his sights on finishing the season as world No.1 - had last been on court competitively at the Shanghai Masters, where he was defeated in the fourth round by Grigor Dimitrov.

He was then forced to pull out of the Swiss Indoors in Basel due to a foot injury and a fatigue issue in his lower back.

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His loss to Safiullin is Alcaraz's first opening-round defeat of 2023.

The world No. 2 received a huge ovation from the crowd on Court Central and the early stages saw back-to-back double faults from Safiullin help Alcaraz take an early break in the first set to move 2-1 ahead, only for the Russian to break straight back.

Unforced errors from Alcaraz started to mount as the set wore on and it was no surprise when Safiullin broke once again before serving out with control to take the first set 6-3.

Alcaraz said that recent practice sessions with Novak Djokovic were full of “intensity” and he needed to find some of that to get back into the match, with Safiullin easing his way through the opening set.

The Wimbledon champion did hit back as expected, serving out to love in the opening game of the second set.

A rogue, pink LED light in the arena rig caused a five-minute delay to proceedings with Safiullin’s ball toss being impacted by the glare.

Resuming at 0-30 down in the game, Safiullin recovered to hold.

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The players traded breaks of serve midway through the second and then it was Alcaraz who was next to blink, with Safiullin taking a fourth break point to go 4-3 up.

With service then held by his opponent, Alcaraz obliged when faced with the task of serving to stay in the match.

However, Safiullin completed the biggest win of his career by taking his second match point.

Zverev helps his chances of reaching ATP Finals

Alexander Zverev came from a set down against Martin Fucsovics to strengthen his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev came out on top 4-6 7-5 6-4 against the Hungarian in Paris.

With eight players making the cut in the Race To Turin, Zverev is currently seventh - 430 points ahead of ninth-placed Hubert Hurkacz.

Alexander Zverev

Image credit: Getty Images

Zverev will play home favourite Ugo Humbert next after the Frenchman saw off Marcos Giron in straight sets.

There was no such romantic ending for Paris-born Gael Monfils, though, after Francisco Cerundolo made it through after winning an epic clash 6-4 6-7(2) 5-7.

Highlights: Cerundolo battles past Monfils at Paris Masters

Video credit: SNTV

Monfils missed the chance to close the tie out in the second set, with his Argentine opponent saving a match point.

Cerundolo was then 3-1 down in the final set, before fighting back and progressing after converting his third match point.

There was more disappointment for the French crowd as Arthur Fils crashed out in straight sets against Daniel Altmaier.

Andrey Rublev made short work of his match with Yoshihito Nishioka.

The fifth seed made it through in straight sets, 6-4 6-3, with the contest lasting little more than an hour.

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