PARIS: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz said on Monday the record prize money on offer at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia earlier this month was a motivation for playing in the tournament as the world number two prepares for the Paris Masters.

Italian rival Jannik Sinner dismissed earlier claims that he joined the exhibition event for financial rewards, emphasising that he went to Riyadh for the sporting challenge.

However, Alcaraz acknowledged the financial aspect played a role as he earned $1.5 million over four days in mid-October.

“I love playing tennis. You know, most of the time I don’t think about the money. I just play for love or for fun. But you have to be realistic. You have to think that you want to earn money, you know, and that’s it,” Alcaraz told reporters on Monday.

”...in Arabia is the most highest prize money ever in the history, so that was a good motivation, at least for me.”

The Spaniard has not experienced much success at the Paris Masters in recent years, with a quarter-final appearance being his best result. Alcaraz captured the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year but said that the season has taken its toll.

“I haven’t played good tennis here in this tournament. Pro­bably at the end of the year, I have been tired, or yeah, as I said last year, I had to understand that the season is still going after September,” he said. “The calendar is super tight, super demanding, as well. So coming to the last tournament of the year, probably I have been tired the last year, didn’t play as well as I wanted, but coming to this year, I think I’m feeling different.”

One of the major obstacles to the title has been removed with seven-time winner Novak Djokovic deciding not to take part.

“My aim is to close the circle with a kind of triple (in Paris), or at least get a good result,” Alcaraz said. “I said last year, I had to understand that the season is still going after September.

And I think I did prepare really well this year,” added Alcaraz, who won this month’s China Open and made it to the semi-finals in the Shanghai Masters.

MANNARINO SHOCKS PAUL

The top seeds began their campaigns on Tuesday while some matches started earlier on Monday.

Frenchman Adrian Mannarino rose to the occasion in front of a home crowd as he beat world number 12 Tommy Paul at the indoor Bercy Arena, which hosted the gymnastics and basketball at the Olympics.

Mannarino, ranked 58th, won 6-3, 7-5 to move into a second-round match against either Zizou Bergs of Belgium or French veteran Richard Gasquet.

Paul’s hopes of qualifying for the end-of-season Masters in Turin in November evaporated as a result of the unexpected defeat.

French 15th seed Ugo Humbert also pleased the home fans with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Brandon Nakashima. And wild card Arthur Rinderknech advanced when Czech opponent Tomas Machac retired during the second set of their match.

Greek 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas emerged from a tricky start to beat Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and move into the second round.

“I didn’t start so well. 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.

Tsitsipas’ next opponent will be Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who outlasted Portugal’s Nuno Borges 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.

Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic went the distance against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, prevailing 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-5 in two hours and 28 minutes.

Advancing in straight sets were Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, American qualifier Marcos Giron, Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, Nicolas Jarry of Chile, Jordan Thompson of Australia and Argentines Francisco Cerun­dolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024