Paris Masters Underway as Top Players Sidelined by Injuries
The final ATP 1000 tournament of the year kicked off in the French capital with notable absences and returning former finalists.
The 2026 Rolex Paris Masters got underway on Monday with a packed center court in Paris, featuring opening-day action at the season's final ATP 1000 event. The tournament serves as a crucial battleground to decide the final four qualification spots for the upcoming ATP Finals.
Among the notable participants returning to the tournament is Ugo Humbert, who comes back as a previous runner-up in the French capital. The local crowds turned out in force for the opening rounds, creating an intense atmosphere on center court as players battle through tightly contested matches.
This year's tournament features a rare historical occurrence, as neither of the previous year's finalists is able to defend their standing. Jannik Sinner, who won the Paris Masters last year, has been forced to end his season early due to a knee injury sustained after winning Wimbledon. Sinner's absence means he cannot defend his title, marking just the fourth time in tennis history that both finalists from the previous year's event have been unable to return the following year.
Joining Sinner on the sidelines is last year's runner-up, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Auger-Aliassime is also struggling with a knee injury suffered at the Shanghai Masters, which has impacted his ranking and dropped him outside the top 10 down to world number 13. Previous instances of both finalists missing the following tournament occurred in 1987, 2003, and 2020.
Despite these high-profile absences, the singles draw still features five former champions aiming for success. Record seven-time champion Novak Djokovic leads this group as he attempts to qualify for the ATP Finals, joined by Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, and new world number one Alexander Zverev.
Opening-day action on Monday saw several competitive matches and notable results across the board. Lorenzo Musetti edged Hubert Hurkacz in two tight tie-breaks to set up a second-round clash against Alexander Zverev, while Rafael Jódar continued his strong season with a victory over Alejandro Tabilo.
Additional matches saw Casper Ruud defeat Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in straight sets, and Cameron Norrie battle past Matteo Arnaldi in a three-set encounter. Meanwhile, qualifier Rinky Hijikata secured a comfortable win over Luciano Darderi, and Denis Shapovalov suffered another unfortunate injury retirement against Karen Khachanov after leading in the deciding set.