Paris: Germany’s Alexander Zverev was knocked out in the second round when he slumped to a 3-6 6-2 6-2 defeat against Dutch journeyman Robin Haase.
The fourth seed, who has already booked his ticket for the season-ending ATP World Tour finals in London, lost his way in the match after Haase levelled at one-set all.
Robin Haase returns the ball to Alexander Zverev during Paris Masters. AP
The 20-year-old Zverev converted his only break point in the first set to take the lead while Haase wasted six break chances.
But Haase played a bit tighter in the second set and it was enough to unsettle Zverev, who never threatened again in an almost empty AccorHotels Arena.
Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro gave his World Tour Finals bid a boost with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Joao Sousa.
The 13th-seeded Argentinian needs to reach at least the semi-finals to take the eighth qualifying spot from Pablo Carreno Busta, who was dumped out by French wildcard Nicolas Mahut on Tuesday.
Home player Lucas Pouille kept his slim hopes of reaching London alive by seeing off Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, but US Open runner-up Kevin Anderson's chances ended with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Fernando Verdasco.
With inputs from Reuters and AFP
Published Date: Nov 01, 2017 11:34 pm | Updated Date: Nov 01, 2017 11:34 pm
