Stefanos Tsitsipas Rallies in Paris for 100th ATP Masters 1000 Win

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after winning against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena during their men's singles match on day one of the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament at the Accor Arena - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy - in Paris on October 28, 2024. (AFP)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after winning against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena during their men's singles match on day one of the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament at the Accor Arena - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy - in Paris on October 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Stefanos Tsitsipas Rallies in Paris for 100th ATP Masters 1000 Win

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after winning against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena during their men's singles match on day one of the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament at the Accor Arena - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy - in Paris on October 28, 2024. (AFP)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after winning against Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena during their men's singles match on day one of the Paris ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament at the Accor Arena - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy - in Paris on October 28, 2024. (AFP)

Greek 10th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas fought past Spanish lucky loser Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Monday.

Tsitsipas needed an hour and 59 minutes, but when it was said and done the 26-year-old secured the 100th match win at an ATP Masters 1000 event of his career.

Tsitsipas said he battled an upset stomach during the match.

"It took a long time for me to feel better," Tsitsipas said. "It was very strange. It doesn't happen very often. I just had to feel better, because I knew I was playing good tennis. I didn't have a great start, but there were so many things on my mind at that moment, I wasn't able to play clearly and with a good picture."

Tsitsipas finished with an 11-4 edge in aces and a whopping 36-15 advantage in total winners, but he had to overcome 45 unforced errors while Carballes Baena committed only 21. Tsitsipas also won 36 of his 45 first-service points (80 percent) and saved 4 of 6 break points.

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

A trio of Frenchmen won on home soil in the opening round.

Wild card Adrian Mannarino upset No. 11 seed Tommy Paul 6-3, 7-5. He reached break point 11 times and managed to break Paul's serve on five occasions.

"I don't know if it's the fact of playing in Paris or of fully finding my form after a lot of physical problems," Mannarino told reporters in French, per tennismajors.com. "The level of play (Monday) was good. Managing to finish the match, when there are many that have passed me by in the same kind of circumstances, it's really satisfying."

No. 15 seed Ugo Humbert also pleased the French 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. Machac won the first set 7-6 (3) and was trailing 3-5 in the second.

Serbian lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic went the distance against Argentina's Sebastian Baez, prevailing 6-4, 6-7 (6), 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.



Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign Executive Program for Youth and Sports

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Tunisia Sign Executive Program for Youth and Sports

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA
The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports. SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Sport and Tunisia's Ministry of Youth and Sports have signed an executive program for cooperation in youth and sports for 2025-2026.

The program was signed on Wednesday in Tunis by Saudi Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Massad -- on behalf of Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal -- and Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports Chief of Staff Chokri Ben Hassen, in the presence of Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports Sadok Mourali and the Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr.

The two-year program aims to enhance cooperation in youth and sports, promote exchange visits for leaders and youth and sports delegations across related fields, and share successful experiences between sports federations, sports and youth administrations, and sports committees. It will also support coordination for training programs, workshops in sports media, and participation in conferences and scientific symposiums.

The agreement reflects the deep historic relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and aligns with the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Sport to strengthen international relations and cooperation with various sports entities, including the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports, fostering the exchange of expertise and knowledge in youth and sports between the two nations.