DESPITE being on the ropes early, Greek talent Stefanos Tsitsipas was able to recover and see off Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in just under two hours at the 2024 Paris Masters. The first round match saw the 10th seed – who has had a mediocre 5-4 record since the Laver Cup – have to fight back from a set down to win, 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Tsitsipas struggled with stomach pains through the match, and went down a set but he managed to work his way back into the contest with some crucial return games and finish with 11 aces among 36 winners. By comparison, the Spaniard hit four winners for 15 total winners.

While Tsitsipas’ form has been inconsistent in 2024 which has resulted in him dropping outside the Top 10, the 11th ranked prospect has still done enough to be 12th overall on the ATP Finals Race. While not realistically able to qualify for Turin, Tsitsipas will be hoping to end his year on a high.

“It’s going to take a lot for me to qualify, so if I manage to up my tennis during this entire week, let’s see,” Tsitsipas said. “If I’m able to deliver something good here, I guess that also earns me a spot in Turin. “Regardless of that, I’m just trying to improve and feel my game the best I can.”

The 10th seed said he was pleased he could overcome the “second battle” being his stomach complaint, and advance through to the Round of 32.

“I didn’t start so well,” he said. “I had an upset stomach and wasn’t feeling so great on the court,” said Tsitsipas, who has reached the semi-finals in Paris in each of the past two years.

“I couldn’t even pump myself up at the beginning of the match, because when something is bothering you that much, it takes your entire concentration and focus. That was perhaps the second battle I was facing today, along with my opponent.”

Tsitsipas will clash with Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the second round after Tabilo saw off Portugese hope Nuno Borges in a similar come-from-behind victory, 3-6 7-6 6-3. The winner will meet either sixth seed Andrey Rublev or Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the Round of 16 after the latter saw off French qualifier Quentin Halys in straight sets, 7-6 6-3.

French veteran Adrian Mannarino ended any chance American Tommy Paul had of making Turin with a 6-3 7-5 victory overnight. The local wildcard won in an hour and 43 minutes to dismiss the 11th seed in front of home fans.

It was equally good news for French 15th seed Ugo Humbert as he also outplayed an American in young Brandon Nakashima. Humbert won 6-3 4-6 6-4 in a tight battle to advance to the Round of 16 alongside compatriot Arthur Rinderknech.

In the all-qualifiers battle, United States representative Marcos Giron defeated Chinese teenager Juncheng Shang in two tiebreakers, while Australian Jordan Thompson beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez. Other first day winners were Alexander Bublik, Tomas Etcheverry, Tallon Griekspoor, Nicolas Jarry and Miomir Kecmanovic.