Home favorite Humbert wins tough three-set match against Nakashima at Paris Masters

PARIS – Home favorite Hugo Humbert had to work hard to beat American Brandon Nakashima in his first match at the Paris Masters on Monday.

Humbert, seeded number 15 in the last Masters 1000 of the season, needed more than two hours to beat Nakashima, number 35 in the ranking, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Humbert, who saved two break points in the decider, extended his unbeaten record against Nakashima to 3-0. He will next face another American player, Marcos Girón, who defeated Shang Juncheng 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6).

Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Luciano Darderi, setting up a second-round meeting with third seed Alexander Zverev, and Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7- 6 (6). Etcheverry will face Grigor Dimitrov.

Also among those who advanced on Monday were Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, Arthur Rinderknech of France and Australia’s Jordan Thompson.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic will be absent from the tournament this year. Jannik Sinner, who is guaranteed to finish the year at number one in the ATP rankings, is the highest-ranked player in Paris, where places in the ATP Finals are up for grabs. Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev have already secured their place in the final event of the season from November 10 to 17.