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Jannik Sinner’s comments should give every player at the Paris Masters a lift

Originally posted on HITC | By Cameron Greenlees | Last updated Oct 31, 2025 4:24 PM ET

Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit from the Paris Masters has opened the door wide for Jannik Sinner to add a 23rd ATP title to his collection.

Alcaraz’s second-round defeat to Cameron Norrie was one of the bigger surprises of the 2025 season, taking place at the year’s final Masters 1000 event. With Alcaraz out, the tournament now seems very much Sinner’s to lose.

However, things might not be as simple as they seem. The Italian still has plenty of challenges ahead, starting with a meeting against Ben Shelton in his next match.

Even though Sinner is clearly seen as the favourite to lift the trophy in Paris, some recent remarks from him could give hope to others in the field.

Sinner’s comments could give the rest of the field a boost

Following his third-round win over Francisco Cerundolo, Sinner spoke openly about how he’s feeling physically.

The 24-year-old had struggled with fitness during the Vienna Open final against Alexander Zverev and said he and his team have been managing those issues throughout his time in Paris.

“Of course, I am not ‘fresh fresh’, but let’s see. I hope that I can recover physically, which is my main priority,” Sinner admitted.

Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Despite not being at full strength, Sinner has still managed to win both of his opening matches in straight sets. But as the tournament progresses, playing through a physical issue might not be enough for him to lift the trophy.

Shelton, Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev are all on his side of the draw and more than capable of taking advantage if Sinner isn’t at his best.

Alongside them, Valentin Vacherot, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, and Alex de Minaur will all take encouragement from Sinner’s comments heading into their remaining matches. There is now a real chance for several players to finish their year on a high note by adding another title to their record.

Sinner’s fitness issues could open the door for Shelton

Shelton hasn’t managed a win over Sinner since 2023, making this upcoming match in Paris an important one for him.

Their last meeting ended with Sinner on top once again, but this time, fitness might play a bigger role than usual.

With Sinner not at his best physically, Shelton may have a good opportunity to end his losing streak and reach the semifinals.

A win here could be exactly what Shelton needs heading into both the latter stages of Paris and the ATP Finals in Turin, which he is now qualified for.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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