Zverev and Djokovic Exit Paris Masters as Alcaraz Advances to Last 16

World number one Alexander Zverev lost his opening match at the Paris Masters on Wednesday, one of several high-profile exits on a day of upsets that also ended Novak Djokovic's tournament. Carlos Alcaraz was the main exception among the top seeds, beating Alex Michelsen 7-6(7/4), 6-3.

Zverev's reign starts with defeat

Zverev, 29, had long been seen as tennis's nearly-man before he won the French and US Opens this year. Those titles took him to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career earlier this month. His time at the summit began poorly, however, as 24th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti beat him 7-6(7/5), 6-2 to reach the third round.

Zverev dominated the first-set tie-break but then lost five consecutive points and six of the following eight games. Speaking to reporters, he said he was "annoyed" and felt he was the only world number one in tennis history who had to explain why he deserved the position. He added that he believed he deserved to be where he was, even though he had lost.

Musetti, a former world number five from Italy, said he had expected the match to be the toughest challenge the sport could offer him. He added that he was happy he had taken his chances.

Djokovic's season comes to an end

Djokovic, 39, lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Rinky Hijikata, the 83rd-ranked Australian qualifier. The defeat ended his hopes of winning an eighth Paris Masters title and qualifying for the ATP Finals. After taking the first set, Djokovic was pushed to a decider. Hijikata, who is 25, broke serve in the eighth game of the second set and served it out to force the third. Djokovic then lost serve twice in a row in the final set.

The loss effectively brought Djokovic's season to a close. The 24-time Grand Slam champion said his plan for the coming weeks was "just rest".

More top seeds fall, Fils qualifies for Turin

Eighth seed Alex de Minaur was beaten 7-6(7/2), 6-3 by Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, who will next face Djokovic's conqueror Hijikata's compatriot route is not relevant here, so the next opponent is Etcheverry's match-up with Hijikata's opponent, meaning he now plays the winner of that round. Fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev, a former world number one, also lost in straight sets to Peru's Ignacio Buse.

Seventh seed Frances Tiafoe lost 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(11/9) to Quentin Halys of France. That result meant Arthur Fils qualified for the ATP Finals, which run from November 15 to 22 in Turin. The world number seven, who is 22, then closed the day's French interest with a 6-3, 7-6(7/4) win over Czech qualifier Tomas Machac. It will be his debut at the season-ending event.

Alcaraz, the second seed, beat 35th-ranked American Michelsen in the night session. Michelsen led 4-1 in the first-set tie-break, but Alcaraz won the next six points to take the set. He broke in the eighth game of the second set and then served it out. "It's been a really difficult day for the top guys, but I just try not to think about it," Alcaraz said. He had lost his opening match in Paris last year.

Thursday's order of play

Third seed Ben Shelton headlines the day session against home favourite Arthur Rinderknech for a place in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz returns in the night session to face Matteo Berrettini.