100th-ranked Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi defeated second-seeded Talon Grixpur 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 in 2 hours 11 minutes. He is now the only French player left in the qualifying round.
He will face 9th seed Yannick Hanfmann, who defeated another French wildcard Felix Balshaw 7-6(3) 6-3 in 1 hour 28 minutes.
Tirante vs Bellucci. two seeds, one place
Third seed Thiago Agustin Tirante had to struggle to open his campaign. The Argentine dropped the first set against American Zachary Swaida before turning the match around to win 3-6 6-1 6-4.
Thirteenth seed Mattia Bellucci took 1 hour 37 minutes to see off Pablo Carreno Busta. The Italian dominated the opening set 6-1, then held his nerve in a tight second set, which he took 7-6(3). Only one of the two seeds will reach the main draw.
Hijikata vs. Kopriva. next the Conqueror of Gaston
Jaime Faria was the first to fall in the Paris qualifying round. Australia’s Rinky Hijikata beat the Portuguese seventh seed 6-3 6-4 in just 65 minutes.
He will face eleventh seed Vit Kopriva, who knocked out French mainstay Hugo Gaston on Center Court. The Czech won 6-4 7-6(1) in 1 hour 53 minutes.
Borges vs Molkan. Mannarino is out
Adrian Mannarino was down in the first set against fourth seed Nuno Borges, but the Portuguese came back to win 4-6 6-1 7-5 in 2 hours 16 minutes.
Borges will face Alex Molkan, who defeated tenth seed Daniel Altmaier 6-4 7-6(1) in 1 hour 30 minutes.
Cherundolo-Ketsmanovich. seed collision
Fifth seed Juan Manuel Cherundolo beat Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6(5) 6-3 in 1 hour 32 minutes. Eighth seed Miomir Kecemanovic took two hours and three sets to overcome James Duckworth 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Baez vs Machac. best seed tested
Top seed Sebastian Baez defeated Damir Dzumhur 7-6(4) 7-5 in 2 hours and 6 minutes. He will face Tomas Machak, who knocked out 14th seed Martin Landalus 6-4 6-3 in 1 hour 27 minutes.
Sonego is waiting for Vallejo or Dimitrov
Lorenzo Sonego took almost three hours to beat twelfth seed Jaume Munnar 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4. The Italian awaits the winner of Adolfo Daniel Vallejo and Grigor Dimitrov, the last match of the first round still to be played.
By reaching the final qualifying round, all winners of the first round are guaranteed €12,920 and 16 ATP ranking points. The seven qualifiers will earn 30 points and enter the main draw starting on Monday, November 2.
Who is expected in the main draw of the qualifying round?
The seven qualifying games will turn into six first-round matches. Luciano Darderi, in Zverev’s quarter, and Kasper Ruud, in Medvedev’s quarter, are both open in qualifying. The fourth quarter, led by Alcaraz, holds three of them; French players Kyrian Jacquet and Titouan Drogue each face qualifying, as does 11th seed Taylor Fritz. Two qualifiers will face each other in the Shelton quarter, guaranteeing that at least one qualifier will advance to the second round.
Rolex Paris Masters Qualifying Round 1 (tie)
- Sebastian Baez (1) d. Damir Dzumhur (Alt) 7-6(4) 7-5
- Thomas Machak d. Martin Landalus (14) 6-4 6-3
- Benjamin Bonzie (WC) d. Talon Greek Track (2) 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-3
- Yannick Hanfman (9) d. Felix Balshaw (WC) 7-6(3) 6-3
- Thiago Agustin Tirante (3) d. Zachary Swayda 3-6 6-1 6-4
- Matia Beluchi (13) d. Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1 7-6(3)
- Nuno Borges (4) d. Adrian Farmer 4-6 6-1 7-5
- Alex Molkan d. Daniel Altmaier (10) 6-4 7-6 (1)
- Juan Manuel Cerundolo (5) d. Alexander Kovacevich 7-6(5) 6-3
- Miomir Ketsmanovich (8) d. James Duckworth 6-4 2-6 6-4
- Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (6) vs Grigor Dimitrov (WC)
- Lorenzo Sonego d. Jaume Munar (12) 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4
- Rinki Hijikata d. Jaime Faria (7) 6-3 6-4
- Vit Kopriva (11) d. Hugo Gaston (WC) 6-4 7-6(1)
Rolex Paris Masters, final qualifying round
- Sebastian Baez (1) vs. Thomas Machak
- Benjamin Bonzi (WC) vs Yannick Hanfman (9)
- Thiago Agustin Tirante (3) vs Mattia Bellucci (13)
- Nuno Borges (4) vs Alex Molkan
- Juan Manuel Cherundolo (5) vs Miomir Ketsmanovic (8)
- Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (6) or Grigor Dimitrov (WC) vs Lorenzo Sonego
- Rinki Hijikata vs Vit Kopriva (11)
