Alcaraz clear favourite at Paris Masters after Sinner withdraws

Carlos Alcaraz is a heavy favourite to win the Paris Masters after world No.1 Jannik Sinner withdrew early on Tuesday morning due to an intestinal virus.

Tennis bookmakers had Alcaraz and Sinner locked at +200 apiece to win the title, but the Spaniard’s title odds have now shortened to +130, with Alexander Zverev his closest rival at +500.

“It’s a very tough announcement,” Sinner said.

“I’m not going to play here in Paris.

“We came here very early to prepare in the best possible way.

“After the first practice session, I really didn’t feel good.

“I also talked with the doctor on Sunday, it’s a virus, what makes you feel better in three or four days.

“Today I feel better already a little bit, but the body is not ready to compete, and I still feel very, very weak.

“It doesn’t make sense to go on court and try to compete for this tournament.

“[I am very] disappointed because it’s a tournament where I would like to see where my level is at. That was one of my main goals for this week.

“But unfortunately, I cannot make this happen.”

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After defeating Nicolas Jarry 7-5, 6-1 in his first match of the tournament on Tuesday, Alcaraz expressed his disappointment that Sinner had withdrawn from the Paris Masters.

“It’s never good news when the best player in the world withdraws from a tournament,” he said.

“I wouldn’t meet him before the final but I love to see him playing as a tennis fan.

“Probably the players in his part of the draw are happy but it’s not good news to my eyes.”

The Spaniard also made it clear that he is in a different state mentally than he was for last year’s Paris Masters, where he suffered an early exit at the hands of qualifier Roman Safiullin

“I’m motivated to win this tournament,” he said.

“I do want to play at my best level at this part of the season.

“It’s always hard to compare your tennis year to year, but I am in a much better state mentally.

“It was difficult for me in 2023 to stay good mentally. It’s totally different now.”

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