Tsitsipas begins his Paris Masters campaign with victory

Stefanos Tsitsipas showed his prowess at the Nitto ATP finals spot on Monday evening during the Rolex Pais Masters.

The Greek shook off a difficult start to overcome Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and book his second-round berth at the indoor ATP Masters 1000. Tsitsipas hit 36 winners to Carballes Baena’s 15 to secure a one-hour, 59-minute triumph and advance to face Alejandro Tabilo.

“I didn’t start so well. I had an upset stomach and wasn’t feeling so great on the court,” said Tsitsipas, who has reached the semi-finals in Paris in each of the past two years. He continued: “I couldn’t even pump myself up at the beginning of the match, because when something is bothering you that much, it takes your entire concentration and focus. That was perhaps the second battle I was facing today, along with my opponent.”

The 26-year-old Tsitsipas is 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He is chasing a sixth consecutive Nitto ATP Finals appearance but will require a deep run in Paris if he is to stay in contention for a spot at the prestigious season finale this year.

“It’s going to take a lot for me to qualify, so if I manage to up my tennis during this entire week, let’s see,” said Tsitsipas, who is currently 705 points shy of eighth-placed Andrey Rublev in the Live Race. “If I’m able to deliver something good here, I guess that also earns me a spot in Turin. Regardless of that. I’m just trying to improve and feel my game the best I can.”

Fellow Turin hopeful Tommy Paul did not enjoy similar success on Day 1 in Paris, falling 6-3, 7-5 to French veteran Adrian Mannarino in a result that ended the 11th seed’s hopes of making his Turin debut.

Mannarino next faces the winner of Belgian lucky loser Zizou Bergs and fellow French veteran Richard Gasquet, who is making his final appearance the Rolex Paris Masters.