Paris Masters: off-colour Nadal ousted by Paul

PARIS: Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Paris Masters in the second round after losing in three sets 6-3, 6-7(4), 1-6 to American Tommy Paul, boosting Carlos Alcaraz’s hopes of finishing the year as world No. 1.

Nadal, who received a bye as second seed, was playing his first singles match since the US Open after spending time at home in Mallorca with his wife and newborn son.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion shook off an early break in the opening set by winning five of the next six games.

But Paul recovered from dropping serve in the third game of the second set to win a tie-break, having failed to convert a set point with Nadal serving at 4-5.

The Spaniard’s lack of match practice told as Paul dominated the final set, breaking three times to seal the biggest win of his career.

“I had the match (in my hands) in that second set with a set and break. I played a terrible game there. I didn’t deserve the victory playing that bad in that key moment,” said Nadal.

“A lot of things have been going on the last couple of months, without a doubt. But we are always ready to find excuses. At the end, it’s always the same.

You play well, you win; you don’t, you lose,” he added.

Nadal said he expected to compete at the Tour finals in Turin from November 13-20. “If nothing happens, I hope to be there. I’m excited about playing, even if it hasn’t been the perfect couple of months for me.”

Meanwhile, top-ranked Alcaraz swatted aside Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals, while Lorenzo Musetti dumped out third seed Casper Ruud.

The Spanish teenager saw off former world No. 3 Dimitrov 6-1, 6-3 in 72 minutes. The 20-yearold Musetti, at a career-high ranking of 23rd, came from behind to beat the Norwegian Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

WTA Finals: Sakkari in last four, Jabeur wins

FORT WORTH: World No. 5 Maria Sakkari advanced to the last four of the WTA Finals for the second straight year as Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur got her campaign back on track with a battling victory.

Greece’s Sakkari secured her place in the semi-finals in Fort Worth, Texas, after cruising past seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-4.

Jabeur, who had been beaten by Sabalenka in three sets on Monday, shrugged off that loss with a spirited 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jessica Pegula.

AP A dejected Rafael Nadal, playing his first singles match since the US Open, walks off after losing to Tommy Paul at Paris Masters.