Zverev topsNadal in Paris

Alexander Zverev advanced to the Paris Masters final for the first time by beating top-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday, denying Nadal the chance towin a tournament that continues to elude him. The fourthseeded Zverev faces No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final. Zverev goes for his fourthMasters title and 14th overall. All of the semifinalists stood to win this tournament for the first time, but itwon’t beNadal. Althoughhehaswon86 titles in his glittering career, including a recordequaling 20Grand Slams and 35Masters events, he lost his only final here in2007 toDavidNalbandian. Serving for the match at an empty Bercy Arena because of the coronavirus pandemic, the imposing Zverev opened with his 13th ace. He double-faulted on his first match point at 40-0. But on the next one, Nadal’s forehand down the line went wide to give the 23-year-old German only his second win in seven matches against the Spanish veteran. “I have just beaten Rafa, so that is never easy to do,” Zverev said.