Tennis Rolex Paris Masters Men's Singles -

Jack Draper continues sparkling form at Paris Masters with Taylor Fritz upset, Alexei Popyrin stuns Daniil Medvedev

React to this story

England's Jack Draper extended his winning momentum with a hard-fought three-set victory over fifth seed Taylor Fritz in the second round of the ATP Paris Masters. Draper will take on Alex de Minaur in the third round. Elsewhere, Alexei Popyrin produced the shock of the day against fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov fought back to clinch an epic against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Highlights: Draper battles past Fritz to continue fine form and move into last 16 of Paris Masters

Video credit: SNTV

Jack Draper continued his sparkling form by beating fifth seed Taylor Fritz 7-6(6) 4-6 6-4 in the second round of the ATP Paris Masters.

Having picked up his second career title in Vienna on Sunday, the Englishman marches into the last 16 with his seventh win on the spin.

After two hours and 21 minutes, just two points separated the pair in the hard-fought contest, and while Draper committed far more unforced errors - 53 to Fritz's 37 - his service game was immaculate, hitting a total of 14 aces.

Montreal Men's Singles -

'So hard to watch' - Tearful Draper shows strain of tough summer as he loses on return

14 hours ago

And Draper made his ambitions of becoming and remaining a "top player" patently clear following his battling victory.

"It's what it's all about," Draper told Sky Sports. "I know if I want to be a consistent top player, I'm going to have to back it up, match after match against the top players in the world.

"The hardest part for me this week has been adjusting to the conditions. But I played in a way that was not the best, but I'm really proud with the way I competed, with the way I problem solved."

The Englishman took an early advantage, breaking Fritz at the second opportunity having pushed him close in the first, but the American responded when Draper served for the match to take the set to a tie-break.

One of the shots of the week, an incredible down-the-line forehand to counter a devilish Fritz smash, helped the 22-year-old to two set points, though he would require a third.

A mammoth sixth game in the second set saw 10 deuces as Draper passed up six break points, and his fruitless exertions seemed to have an effect immediately, as Fritz responded with the match's first love-break.

That would eventually prove decisive in the 57-minute set, and it took just one break to decide the third, with Draper catching out his opponent with the first break point of the set.

Draper will face Alex de Minaur in the last 16 after the Australian dispatched Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4 7-6(5).

It was not all plain sailing for the ninth seed, who had to fight back from 5-3 down in the second set to take it to a tightly-contested tie-break.

Popyrin stuns Medvedev

By far the biggest shock of the day saw Alexei Popyrin stun fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, reaching the third round after winning a dramatic third-set tie-break.

As the ATP Finals in Turin loom, the 6-4 2-6 7-6(4) loss represented yet another misstep for the Russian in a wholly underwhelming year on tour.

Despite reaching the Australian Open final in January, Medvedev has not won an ATP title since May of last year, and found fault with the playing equipment on offer after his disappointing defeat.

“Some players will like this ball, so I get it. I’m crying because it disadvantages me,” said Medvedev.

“But if you take six of the new balls out of the can, if you look closely and you bounce them, there are going to be six different balls. I don’t think that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Highlights: Popyrin stuns fourth seed Medvedev in Paris

Video credit: SNTV

Grigor Dimitrov had to come from a set behind to keep his Turin hopes alive. The world No. 10 beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7(9) 6-3 7-5.

In a match that lasted just short of three hours, the Bulgarian passed up one set point in the first-set tie-break before his Argentinian opponent took advantage of his fourth.

Amazingly, Dimitrov won each of his 16 service games during the match, and broke Etcheverry three times in the final two sets to confirm his safe passage.

Elsewhere, 13th seed Holger Rune came through in straight sets against Alexander Bublik, and there were equally comfortable wins for home favourites Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils.

Humbert will face Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday, with the Spaniard the highest-ranked player left in the competition after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal due to a virus.

And Humbert's compatriot Fils will go up against third seed Alexander Zverev, who knocked out Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(2) 6-3.

Stream top tennis action live and on-demand on discovery+

ATP Washington