Zverev beats former champion Rune to advance to Paris Masters final

PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev reached the Paris Masters final for the second time after beating former champion Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Saturday.

Zverev, a runner-up here in 2020, next plays 2018 champion Karen Khachanov or 15th-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

Victory on Sunday would give Zverev a seventh Masters title and also move him past top-ranked Jannik Sinner for most wins on the ATP tour this year. They are tied on 65.

Rune saved one match point with a brilliant cross-court forehand winner, but the third-seeded Zverev held his nerve on the next with a crisp backhand volley at the net.

“I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself but he is a champion. It is probably his favorite tournament and favorite court,” the 27-year-old Zverev said. "I am happy to be in my second final here, I am looking forward to it.”

Zverev was mostly in control against Rune in their fourth career meeting and first on indoor hard courts. The French Open runner-up improved to 3-1 overall against his rival, who won the Paris Masters in 2022 by stunning Novak Djokovic in the final.

Rune saved a break point in his opening service game as he struggled from the back of the court.

Zverev broke him in the fourth game when Rune's two-handed backhand went out, and he held serve for a 4-1 lead in a commanding first set, clinching it when his opponent returned long.

He broke the 13th-seeded Danish player to serve for the match for the first time at 5-4, but Rune broke straight back.

A long 11th game saw both players miss chances and it went to a sixth deuce before Rune finally won it with a backhand volley at the net.

That was the end of his resistance and Zverev was untroubled in his next service game and in the tiebreaker.

The big-serving German is bidding for his second title of the year and 23rd overall.

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