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Paris is the city of love, but close friends Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov had to put that aside briefly at the Rolex Paris Masters, where they competed in the latest Lexus ATP Head2Head Scavenger Hunt.

The former Top 10 stars raced in a Lexus vehicle to the historic Place des Vosges, where they worked through a scavenger hunt list. Dimitrov slid down a slide and Monfils did a quick dance.

At one point, Dimitrov sat down to pen a letter to Monfils nearby the Maison de Victor Hugo, which was once the home of famous writer Victor Hugo.

“Dear Gael,

So they say love is a bad thing to have in tennis, but this is all I have for you.

The singles field for the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals is set. Alexander Zverev and Holger Rune on Friday claimed the final two spots for the season finale, which will be played at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 12-19 November.

Zverev and Rune join Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the elite field.

With 20-year-olds Alcaraz and Rune both qualifying, two 20-and-under players will compete in the same Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since 2000, when 19-year-old Lleyton Hewitt and 20-year-old Marat Safin made their debuts.

Four of the stars have triumphed at the Nitto ATP Finals before. Six-time champion Djokovic can break his tie with Roger Federer for the most titles in year-end championships history (since 1970). Zverev won the title in 2018 and 2021, while Tsitsipas triumphed in 2019 as a 21-year-old, becoming the youngest tournament winner since 20-year-old Hewitt in 2001, and Medvedev lifted the trophy in 2020.

Djokovic, Alcaraz and Medvedev have reached No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Djokovic is in pole position to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honours. If the Serbian achieves the feat for a record-extending eighth time, he would also reach 400 career weeks at World No. 1 on 20 November, the day after the tournament ends. He would become the first player to reach the milestone.

Novak Djokovic gained revenge against Holger Rune on Friday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he defeated the 2022 champion 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 in a rematch of last year’s final. The World No. 1 now holds a 48-9 record in Paris, having advanced to the semi-finals nine times.

The 20-year-old Rune upset Djokovic in the Paris title match last year to capture his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy. The Serbian ensured he would not suffer the same fate this season, though. In a high-quality match, he won 80 per cent (12/15) of his second-serve points in the first set and fended off a mid-match resurgence from Rune. After saving a match point at 4-5 in the second set, the Dane won nine of 10 points deep in the set to level, opening his shoulders to hit freely.

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As he so often does, Djokovic regrouped in the third set. He gained an early break and offered Rune little opportunity on return, committing just one unforced error in the decider to improve to 31-1 on hard courts in 2023.

"It was quite a similar match to last year's final, it was any body's game in every set." Djokovic said. "I played an awful tie-break in the second set, probably the worst one this year. But again credit to him for staying mentally tough and playing solid. We have similar games. Move well, defend well and all-round players."

The doubles field for the Nitto ATP Finals is now set. Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni are the final team to qualify for the season finale, which will be held in Turin from 12-19 November.

The Argentines join Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek, Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski, Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos, Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Rajeev Ram/Joe Salisbury and Rinky Hijikata/Jason Kubler at the prestigious tournament.

The defending champions are Ram and Salisbury, who triumphed at this year’s US Open. There is also a tight battle for the Year-End No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Ranking, with several duos still in contention. Koolhof and Skupski earned the honour one year ago.

Four teams — Bopanna/Ebden, Gonzalez/Roger-Vasselin, Gonzalez/Molteni and Hijikata/Kubler — will compete as pairs in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.

Gonzalez and Molteni have won five ATP Tour titles this season, tied for the most of any duo in Turin with Dodig and Krajicek. The Argentines earned crowns in Cordoba, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Washington and at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.

Stefanos Tsitsipas sealed his 300th career-win in style Friday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he eased past Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.

The seventh seed converted all three break points he earned to reach his third consecutive ATP Tour semi-final and match his 2022 run at the indoor Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy. The Greek is yet to drop a set this week as he chases his second tour-level title of the season.

“It’s working well. I feel like I can mix up play,” said Tsitsipas, when asked about the variety he deployed to counter Khachanov’s baseline power. “It feels good to have so much variety and so much diversity in the way you can play. I take that as an opportunity to keep growing my game and keep looking forward at the many more matches to come and appreciate each moment that comes my way.”

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Tsitsipas was rock solid for much of an 80-minute victory during which his only setback was when Khachanov reclaimed a break of serve in the sixth game of the second set. However, the Greek regained his composure to clinch another break of his own in the ninth game, and after bringing up match point with a stunning drop shot winner at 5-4, 30/15 he confidently served out to reach his second Masters 1000 semi-final of the season.

The battle for the top pair in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings is in full force at the Rolex Paris Masters.

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, who are currently third in the Race, booked their semi-final ticket Friday at the ATP Masters 1000 event, where they cruised past fifth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 6-2. The Indian-Australian duo won 92 per cent of their first-serve points, compared to their opponent's 61 per cent. Bopanna and Ebden will next compete in their third consecutive tour-level semi-final.

After Harri Heliovaara and Mate Pavic upset top seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek 6-4, 6-4 on Friday, Bopanna and Ebden have a chance to move to the top spot in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings should they claim the Paris title. Bopanna and Ebden, who will face Heliovaara and Pavic in the semi-finals, trail World No. 1 team Dodig and Krajicek by 580 points.

In the bottom half of the draw, second seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski will face Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the quarter-finals Friday evening. Fourth seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury meet Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow in the last eight.

Koolhof and Skupski also have a chance at claiming the top spot in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings on Monday. If Koolhof and Skupski fail to reach the final while Bopanna and Ebden triumph, the Indian-Australian team would pass Dodig and Krajicek by just 60 points to become World No. 1.

Watch the ATP Challenger Tour event in Ismaning, Germany and you will see a carpet court as orange as leaves turning colour in autumn. Do not be mistaken, it is not red clay, it is the last carpet tournament remaining on the ATP Challenger Tour or higher.

Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler, who is seeded eighth at the Wolffkran Open by Tannenhof this week, is no stranger to the surface. Despite rarely competing on carpet at the pro level, the 27-year-old has found success in Ismaning, where he was crowned champion in 2020.

“Carpet is a bit special. It’s a bit of a changeup, pretty fast but absolutely playable,” Huelser told ATPTour.com. “I grew up on carpet a little so I know what it's like. It plays pretty fast, especially serving, it’s really important. It’s easier to get free points with your serve, especially the slider serve, it somehow accelerates on the floor.

“It’s similar to grass because you have to stay low. If you manage to take the ball early, go to net and use the pace your opponent gives you, then you’re a good carpet player.”

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Grigor Dimitrov’s late-season charge shows no sign of abating at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The Bulgarian held his nerve for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 triumph against Hubert Hurkacz on Friday to book a semi-final spot at the indoor ATP Masters 1000 event. Dimitrov capitalised on a slow start from the 11th-seeded Hurkacz to race to the opening set at Accor Arena, before staying consistent in the decider to reach the semi-finals in Paris-Bercy for the second time.

“My body is feeling well for now, that’s the most important thing,” said Dimitrov, who also upset third seed Daniil Medvedev this week in Paris. “My head is good. If I’m able to play like that on a consistent basis throughout every game, I put myself in a position to do better.

“Today was no different. A completely different opponent again. Every day you have to adapt, and I’ve been able to do so these four or five days.”

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Running back into form without a moment to spare, defending champion Holger Rune has given himself the chance to reprise his stunning win over Novak Djokovic last year at the Rolex Paris Masters and boost his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals after a key win Thursday night.

The 20-year-old Dane produced a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win over German Daniel Altmaier to charge into the quarter-finals and set another meeting with the World No. 1, whom he denied a seventh Paris title in last year’s final.

Rune’s title run last year left him one place outside the cut for the Nitto ATP Finals, where he served as the alternate. This year he is trying to hang onto the eighth and final place in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

How about Holger tonight? ?@RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/rqZcATepud

In addition to his 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Djokovic in last year's final, the World No. 7 defeated the Serbian in three sets in the Rome quarter-finals earlier this year to take a 2-1 lead in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Novak Djokovic was on the brink of becoming the latest upset victim at the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday night. Instead, he battled back from a set down to defeat Tallon Griekspoor and advance to his ninth straight quarter-final at the event.

The Serbian won the final eight points of the match to escape with a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 victory, extending his winning streak to 15 matches and tightening his grip on the No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Ranking. He now leads Carlos Alcaraz — who was upset by Roman Safiullin in his Paris opener — by 670 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, which serves as a barometer in the battle for year-end No. 1.

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Following the match, Djokovic revealed he was struggling with a stomach issue — though he was full of praise for Griekspoor's effort.

"I don't want to take anything away from his performance. He didn't drop the level," the Serbian said. "Maybe in the third set a few games he did a bit, but he was playing at a very high level and credit to him for that performance. If he would be the winner tonight, it would be absolutely deserved. 

"I started off well but I ran out of steam. I've been struggling the last couple of days with my stomach and I just didn't feel myself at all. I was just trying to hold my serve and get to a tie-break, which happened in the second. I got lucky on a couple of shots there. It could have easily gone his way, but overall I played a good tie-break and I started to feel better in the third. I'm really, really glad to overcome this challenge."

Can Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow ride their red-hot late-season form all the way to the Nitto ATP Finals?

The American pair maintained its push for a debut at the prestigious season finale Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where it overcame rivals Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni 7-5, 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals. Lammons and Withrow converted two of the seven break points they earned to clinch their 94-minute triumph and set a last-eight clash with Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury.

Lammons and Withrow have lifted four tour-level titles since July (Newport, Atlanta, Winston-Salem, Astana) and their run so far on debut at the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy has consolidated them in eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

An eighth-place finish won’t be enough for Lammons and Withrow to book a spot at the prestigious season finale this year, however, after Australian Open winners Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler’s qualification as the only Grand Slam champions to finish the regular season between eighth and 20th was confirmed earlier on Thursday. Lammons and Withrow therefore need to overhaul Gonzalez and Molteni in seventh to reach Turin — the Argentines are currently 355 points ahead of the Americans.

Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski extended their winning streak in Paris-Bercy to five matches by defeating Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev 6-4, 7-6(5). The 2022 champions began their title defence by wrapping a 93-minute win to set a quarter-final with Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, whose Nitto ATP Finals qualification was also confirmed on Thursday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year. The Greek will join Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev at the season finale, which will be played at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 12-19 November.

“It's awesome. What a great relief to finally get that spot,” Tsitsipas said. “I’ve been working extremely hard the whole year… and it's a moment of relief that I've made it to one of my favourite events of the year and I get the opportunity to play in from my Italian fans, but also get some Greek people in.”

? The 2019 #NittoATPFinals Champions has qualified ?

How will @steftsitsipas close the 2023 season? ? pic.twitter.com/QXS0EhOtyO

Tsitsipas made his debut at the year-end championships in 2019, capturing the prestigious title aged 21. The victory made him the youngest Nitto ATP Finals champion since a 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.

Now 25, Tsitsipas earned his way to the tournament with deep runs at some of the world’s biggest tournaments. The Greek advanced to his second major final at the Australian Open and also reached the championship match in Barcelona. 

The Stefanos Tsitsipas resurgence continues at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The seventh-seeded Greek powered past Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 6-4 in a big-serving battle on Thursday afternoon at the French ATP Masters 1000 event. Tsitsipas struck 37 winners, including 10 aces, to notch his 50th tour-level win of the season and simultaneously seal his spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

With his one-hour, 59-minute triumph, Tsitsipas improved to 9-4 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Zverev. The 25-year-old, who reached the semi-finals in Paris in 2022, will take on Karen Khachanov next after the 16th seed overcame qualifier Roman Safiullin 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

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“It’s awesome. What a great relief to finally get that spot," said Tsitsipas after sealing his Turin place for the fifth consecutive year. "I’ve been working extremely hard the whole year to be in Turin, and it’s a moment of relief that I’ve made it to one of my favourite events of the year. I get the opportunity to play in front of my Italian fans, but also get some Greek people in.

Andrey Rublev became just the fourth player this year to earn 20 ATP Masters 1000 match wins when he brushed aside Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday.

The fifth seed was at his devastating best against the Dutchman, hammering 18 winners and committing just four unforced errors to advance to his 12th tour-level quarter-final of the season after 65 minutes.

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Rublev captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo earlier this year and holds a 20-7 record at this level in 2023. Only Carlos Alcaraz (25), Daniil Medvedev (25) and Jannik Sinner (21) have earned more wins at Masters 1000 events in 2023.

“Today it went my way,” Rublev said. “Early breaks gave me some confidence. From one set up you play with more freedom and then with a break in the second more free. Then you can go for even more.”

Two more doubles teams have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals. Santiago Gonzalez/Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Rinky Hijikata/Jason Kubler are the sixth and seventh teams to guarantee their place at the season finale, which will be held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin from 12-19 November.

Gonzalez and Roger-Vasselin have enjoyed a standout year in their first season as a team. The Mexican-French duo has claimed four titles, including an ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Miami.

The veteran pair — Gonzalez is 40 and Roger-Vasselin turns 40 later this month — also emerged victorious in Marseille, Los Cabos and Basel.

Gonzalez will make his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals, while Roger-Vasselin will compete for the third time with a third partner. In 2014, he played with Julien Benneteau and in 2020 he qualified with Jurgen Melzer and reached the championship match.

Hijikata and Kubler will both make their season finale debut in Turin. The Australians earned their spot at the year-end championships by winning the Australian Open and being the only Grand Slam champions to finish the regular season between eighth and 20th in the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

Rafael Nadal is a sporting icon and he provides a role model for fledgling stars who dream of their own career on the professional tour. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion not only sets an example for young players, he is also a source of inspiration for the veterans

Enrique Ayala is one of them. The nonagenarian tennis player won the Over-90 Spanish Championship in June, defeating Manuel Villanueva in two sets in the final of the event, which was held at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar.

There, on the clay courts of Manacor, as he received his trophy, he was unaware of the misfortune that would soon come his way. After returning from Mallorca, he caught COVID-19 and spent almost two months in critical condition in UCI.

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During his time battling with the virus, Ayala received a very special message. Nadal, upon hearing the news, did not hesitate to send him a video of support that, according to the patient himself, had “a great influence” on his recovery, along with the fact that he is so active so late in his life.

It is a big week for Holger Rune, who is trying to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time.

Instead of wilting under the pressure against former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem on Wednesday evening, the defending champion rose to the occasion with a 6-4, 6-2 victory to reach the third round of the Rolex Paris Masters.

The 20-year-old is eighth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, the last qualifying spot for the season finale, which begins on 12 November. He is doing everything in his power to hold onto his position, with ninth-placed Hubert Hurkacz 215 points behind.

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It has not been the easiest second half of the year for Rune, who has won just four matches since Wimbledon. But with former World No. 1 Boris Becker now his coach, the Dane found form last week in Basel, where he advanced to the semi-finals. And now he is back at the location of his maiden ATP Masters 1000 triumph.

At age 36, Novak Djokovic has accomplished almost everything possible in tennis. The Serbian's next milestone could be becoming the first player to reach 400 weeks as the World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

The 24-time major champion, who has held the top spot for a record 397 weeks, shared some of his career-best memories and what has kept his fire ignited in the latest ATP Uncovered ‘Legacy’ feature.

“I was never satisfied with anything else but No. 1,” Djokovic said. “I always wanted to win Wimbledon and be No. 1. Those were the two childhood dreams.”

Watch the full video below to relive what Djokovic said following his first tour-level title in 2006, highlights of several key moments throughout his journey and see how he has climbed the ladder of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek earned a comeback win on Wednesday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where they moved past Frenchmen Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul 3-6, 6-3, 10-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

The top seeds, who have already qualified for this month’s Nitto ATP Finals, fired 10 aces and won 80 per cent (32/40) of their first-serve points to advance after one hour and 30 minutes at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Dodig and Krajicek are chasing their sixth tour-level title of the season as a team, with their triumphs including a trophy at the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte-Carlo. They reached the final in Paris-Bercy last year, losing against Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski.

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In other action, Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin moved past Jamie Murray and Michael Venus 6-4, 6-3 to end the British-Kiwi Team's Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes.

Novak Djokovic tightened his grip on the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone honour Wednesday when he moved past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round at the Rolex Paris Masters.

“I am pleased,” Djokovic said. “I think I played well in the important points. Hit the extra shot and made him uncomfortable. I think I changed the position of the court and did not give him the same look. I think that allowed me to break serve in the first set. I was serving up and down. Some parts of the match really good, others losing the rhythm. But I think it is normal to be rusty a little bit after not playing an official match for so long. But a straight-sets win against a guy who has been improving so much.”

The World No. 1 leads Carlos Alcaraz by 580 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin and could extended his advantage to 1,495 points by winning a record-extending seventh title in Paris-Bercy after the Spaniard lost in his opening match on Tuesday.

In front of a packed crowd on Court Central, Djokovic was in complete control against Etcheverry, who has tracked his ATP Pepperstone Ranking position in comparison to the Serbian in recent years.

Started from the bottom now we here ? ? pic.twitter.com/iBsAJM2YWm