Alexander Zverev upsets Rafael Nadal to set up a Paris Masters final against Daniil Medvedev

Alexander Zverev upsets clay king Rafael Nadal in straight sets to set up a Paris Masters final against Daniil Medvedev

  • Rafael Nadal has 86 titles and 20 grand slams but has never won Paris Masters
  • The Spaniard reached the final in 2007 but lost to Argentine David Nalbandian 
  • Nadal punched his racket and sat shaking his head during the change over
  • Daniil Medvedev qualified for the final by beating Milos Raonic in straight sets 

Alexander Zverev advanced to the Paris Masters final for the first time by beating top-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday, denying Nadal the chance to win a tournament that continues to elude him.

The fourth-seeded Zverev faces No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final, and leads him 5-1 in career meetings.

Nadal has won 86 titles, including a record-equalling 20 Grand Slams and 35 Masters events, but lost his only final here in 2007 to David Nalbandian.

Alexander Zverev celebrates after beating Rafael Nadal in straight sets to progress to the final

The Paris Masters is one tournament Nadal has failed to win throughout his illustrious career

The Paris Masters is one tournament Nadal has failed to win throughout his illustrious career

Serving for the match at an empty Bercy Arena because of the coronavirus pandemic, the imposing Zverev opened with his 13th ace.

He double-faulted on his first match point at 40-0. But on the next one, Nadal’s forehand down the line went wide to give the 23-year-old German only his second win in seven matches against the Spanish veteran.

Nadal was broken to love in the third game and dropped the opening set for the third time in his four matches. Zverev won 78% of points on first serve compared to 60% for Nadal and led 9-1 in aces in that set. He clinched it with a sliced shot at the net which Nadal could not reach.

Zverev broke Nadal again in the third game of the second set.

The 34-year-old Spaniard visibly showed his frustrations throughout the semi final defeat

The 34-year-old Spaniard visibly showed his frustrations throughout the semi final defeat

A frustrated Nadal punched his racket head when he failed to convert two break points in the sixth game, but held his nerve to save four break points in the next game and then finally broke Zverev to make it 4-4.

But an erratic and agitated Nadal was conceding too many chances on his serve and, after Zverev broke him for a third time, he sat shaking his head during the changeover.

Earlier, Medvedev reached the Paris Masters final for the first time after beating Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a contest between big servers. He secured the win with a smash at the net.

The 10th-seeded Raonic has never won a Masters event and missed out on a second final here, having lost to Novak Djokovic in 2014. The Canadian had 12 aces compared to seven for Medvedev and both players won around 80% of their points on first serves.

Russian Daniil Medvedev will face Zverev in the Paris Masters final after beating Milos Raonic

Russian Daniil Medvedev will face Zverev in the Paris Masters final after beating Milos Raonic

Raonic lost is straight sets, however he did reach the final in 2014 losing to Novak Djokovic

Raonic lost is straight sets, however he did reach the final in 2014 losing to Novak Djokovic

‘I don’t think it was the best tennis I have played this year, but it was definitely one of the best matches,’ Medvedev said. ‘I was playing good in the beginning of the year, and then there was a stop (because of the pandemic).’

Raonic missed a chance in the second set when Medvedev saved three break points at 0-40 down in the eighth game, but Raonic finally broke him on his fourth break point in the 12th game to make it 6-6.

‘I think in some key moments he found a way to be a bit more the aggressor. He was dictating a bit more, I was trying to change the pace up,’ Raonic said. ‘He was a lot more efficient at creating his opportunities.’

Medvedev raced into a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker and sealed victory on his first match point. The 2019 U.S. Open runner-up is seeking his eighth career title and first this year.