Alexander Zverev reached the final of the Paris Masters for the second time by defeating former champion Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Saturday.
Zverev, who was the runner-up in 2020, will next face either 2018 champion Karen Khachanov or 15th-seeded French player Ugo Humbert.
Rune managed to save one match point with an impressive cross-court forehand winner, but Zverev, the third seed, stayed calm on the next point and won with a sharp backhand volley at the net.
Zverev mostly controlled the match against Rune in their fourth meeting, which was also their first on indoor hard courts. The French Open runner-up improved his record to 3-1 against Rune, who won the Paris Masters in 2022 by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
Rune faced a break point in his first service game and struggled at the back of the court.
Zverev broke Rune in the fourth game when Rune’s two-handed backhand went out. He then held his serve to lead 4-1 in the first set, winning it when Rune hit a long return.
He broke the 13th-seeded Danish player to serve for the match at 5-4, but Rune broke back immediately.
In a long 11th game, both players missed opportunities, and it went to a sixth deuce before Rune finally won it with a backhand volley at the net.
That was the end of Rune’s fight, and Zverev had no trouble in his next service game and in the tiebreak.
The powerful-serving German is aiming for his second title of the year and the 23rd of his career.