2024 ATP Finals Race to Turin: Alex de Minaur makes big qualification move at Paris Masters
10/31/2024 02:59 PM
Alex de Minaur took a significant step towards qualifying for the ATP Finals after his three-set third round victory over Jack Draper at the 2024 Paris Masters.
The world No 10 earned a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 victory against Draper to progress to the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 tournament.
De Minaur’s win ended Draper’s seven-match winning streak, with the 22-year-old Brit having triumphed at last week’s Vienna Open before adding two wins in Paris. Draper’s slim ATP Finals qualification hopes have been dashed as the world No 15 needed to win the title.
The Australian now holds a 4-1 record against Draper, who won the pair’s previous meeting in straight sets in the US Open quarter-finals last month.
With his third round win in Paris, de Minaur has climbed above Andrey Rublev into the eighth and final qualification spot in the Live Race to Turin rankings.
The 25-year-old has earned 200 points for his three victories en route to the last eight, taking his points total to 3,745.
This puts him 25 points clear of Rublev, who was eliminated by Francisco Cerundolo in his opening match in Paris.
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De Minaur, who will face either Arthur Cazaux or Holger Rune in the last eight in Paris, can leapfrog both Casper Ruud and Novak Djokovic in the Race to Turin if he reaches the semi-finals.
The Australian is 105 points behind Ruud in seventh and 165 points behind Djokovic in sixth. Ruud exited Paris without winning a match, while Djokovic did not enter the tournament.
Live ATP Race to Turin (after de Minaur’s 3R win)
6. Novak Djokovic – 3,910
7. Casper Ruud – 3,855
8. Alex de Minaur – 3,745
9. Andrey Rublev – 3,720
10. Grigor Dimitrov – 3,240
11. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 3,165
12. Tommy Paul, United States – 3,145 (cannot qualify)
13. Holger Rune, Denmark – 2,725
Following his win over Draper, de Minaur was asked about the boost to his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
"You can never say 'job done' in the middle of a tournament, that's not in my DNA," he said.
"Obviously I'm super stoked with the win today, but I will keep on doing my best and keep on trying to win more matches.
"It took every ounce from me and I am just happy I was able to rally. I'm going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, show my opponent that I can do that all day.
“I needed to bring that intensity because Jack is a hell of a competitor, playing with so much confidence right now."
Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are also still alive at the Paris Masters — and both remain in the hunt for a place in Turin.
Dimitrov, who will face Arthur Rinderknech in the last 16, will need to at least reach the final — something he achieved at last year’s edition.
Tsitsipas, meanwhile, must win the Masters 1000 event to have a chance. The Greek will play Alexander Zverev in the last eight.
Depending on how the rest of the Paris Masters unfolds, the Race to Turin could be decided next week if players who are in the mix enter either of the ATP 250 events in Belgrade or Metz. The ATP Finals will take place the following week: from November 10 to 17.
Holger Rune also has a very slim chance of qualifying, but he has to win the Paris title and likely make a deep run at a tournament next week.
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz have already qualified for Turin.
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