World primary Carlos Alcaraz eased into the final 16 of the Paris Masters on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, however Daniil Medvedev was despatched packing by Alex de Minaur. Alcaraz, the reigning US Open champion, will play Grigor Dimitrov or Fabio Fognini for a spot within the quarter-finals. The 19-year-old smacked 30 winners together with 9 aces regardless of a heavily-taped left knee, a difficulty he had downplayed on Monday.

“I tried to find my best level. I think I played really well. I don’t think about the pressure of being world number one,” mentioned Alcaraz.

Felix Auger-Aliassime started his bid for a fourth title in as many weeks by battling again from the brink to beat Mikael Ymer in three hours and half-hour. The Canadian eighth seed scraped by 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to increase his profitable streak to 14 matches.

Auger-Aliassime saved two break factors at 1-4 within the second set simply as Ymer appeared poised to finish his unbeaten run.

“Somehow I found a second wind after saving those break points at 4-1,” mentioned Auger-Aliassime. “It was pretty epic. Definitely a win to remember.”

Earlier, Australia’s Alex de Minaur knocked out former world primary Medvedev, rediscovering his momentum within the closing set to win 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

Fifth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas had no drawback in seeing off Britain’s Dan Evans 6-3, 6-4 to ebook his place within the final 16. De Minaur rallied from 0-2 in a topsy-turvy closing set however squandered two match factors on the Russian’s serve in a gripping tenth sport.

Despite that disappointment, he was once more aggressive on return at 6-5 and a Medvedev double fault on a fourth match level at 30/40 gave De Minaur the largest win of his profession. 
The world quantity 25, who had not beforehand overwhelmed a top-five participant, will now face US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe, who eased previous Jack Draper 6-3, 7-5.

After dropping the opening set, third-ranked Medvedev gave the impression to be again in management as he romped by the second set to stage the match.

But the Russian grew to become more and more agitated, shedding confidence, particularly on his serve, and delivered a string of unforced errors.

He set free his frustration on the finish of the match, which lasted two hours and 46 minutes, smashing his racket on the bottom earlier than warmly congratulating his 23-year-old opponent.

Tsitsipas strikes on

Greek star Tsitsipas had the sting over Evans from the beginning and accomplished a snug victory in 80 minutes. With Evans struggling to get into the competition and committing a variety of unforced errors, Tsitsipas took the initiative by breaking his opponent’s opening service sport in each units.

“I was really looking forward to going out there and playing a proper match,” mentioned Tsitsipas.

“Not great memories from last year but I was trying to give it another go this year. I’m happy with the way I played, I’m happy with the level of tennis I brought when I had to and it was a great start.”

Promoted

The 24-year-old, whose finest efficiency at Bercy got here in 2019 when he misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the quarter-finals, will face both Cameron Norrie, one other Briton, or Frenchman Corentin Moutet subsequent.

Both he and Medvedev have been assured to play the end-of-season ATP Finals in Turin later this month no matter their efficiency in Paris. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti beat Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-4, 6-2 to arrange a last-16 assembly with third seed Casper Ruud.