PARIS — Germany’s Alexander Zverev beat Holger Rune in the semifinals of the Paris Masters on Saturday to book his place in the final, where he will face Frenchman Ugo Humbert.

Zverev’s 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory against the Dane sent the 27-year-old into his second ATP 1000-level final of the season after his victory in Rome in May.

World number 18 Humbert, who defeated world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16, beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-3 after the Paris champion of 2018 suffered a thigh injury in the last set. .

“I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself, but he (Rune) is a champion,” Zverev said.

“It’s probably his favorite tournament and his favorite court, but I’m happy to be in my second final here.”

Zverev previously reached the final in Paris in 2020, but lost in three sets to Daniil Medvedev.

For Rune, the 2022 champion, the defeat ended his external hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin, which will be held from November 10 to 17.

Zverev, who stands 198cm tall, relied on his big first serve and the speed of the surface at the Bercy Arena in Paris to get him through his service games.