Paris Masters 2026: Zverev-Alcaraz Draw, Sinner Out

The main draw of the 2026 Paris Masters began Monday, November 2, at the Plénitude Arena (formerly Paris La Défense Arena) in Nanterre, just west of Paris, with Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz as the top two seeds in opposite halves of the draw and defending champion Jannik Sinner not in the field at all. The same Monday, Zverev replaced Sinner as world No. 1, the first time he has held the top ranking. Sinner's season has been over since October 6 because of a right knee injury, and he is formally listed among this week's withdrawals alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has a knee problem of his own. The last Masters 1000 event of the season ends with the final on Sunday, November 8.

Who Is Missing

Sinner has not played a match since he beat Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July. He withdrew from Montreal, Cincinnati, the US Open, the China Open and the Shanghai Masters before ending his season on October 6 with knee inflammation (see Sinner's Shanghai withdrawal). His formal Paris Masters withdrawal and absence from the ATP Finals and Davis Cup Final 8 are part of that same decision, not a new setback. Auger-Aliassime, Joao Fonseca, Alexander Bublik and Jakub Mensik withdrew before the draw. Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli, this year's Roland-Garros runner-up, pulled out on Monday evening, and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (back) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (right shoulder) withdrew on Tuesday.

Zverev and Alcaraz Land on Opposite Sides

With Sinner out, Alexander Zverev, who clinched the 2026 year-end No. 1 ranking on October 12 (see how Zverev clinched year-end No. 1) and became world No. 1 on November 2, is the top seed in Paris. Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his wildcard title in Vienna (see our report on that win), is seeded second. As the two top seeds, both received byes into the second round, and the draw keeps them apart until a possible final on November 8. Zverev's first opponent is Lorenzo Musetti, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6, 7-6 on Monday. Alcaraz's first match after the bye is against either Alex Michelsen or Jiri Lehecka, and his quarter also includes sixth seed Arthur Fils, the home favorite.

Djokovic's Path

Novak Djokovic, who turns 40 next May, is seeded 10th in Paris, outside the top eight seeds who receive byes. He opened his tournament on Tuesday, November 3, against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who won the Basel title on Sunday and beat Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters semifinals in October 2025. The result was not known at the time of writing. A strong week in Paris would add to the case, after his China Open title in October, that Djokovic can still contend deep into tournaments at 39.

Why It Matters for Roland-Garros 2027

Paris is the last big measuring stick of the season before the ATP Finals in Turin (November 15 to 22) and the long offseason that leads into Roland-Garros 2027, which runs May 17 to June 6. Zverev arrives as the defending Roland-Garros champion and the new world No. 1, and he will be the first German man to finish a season ranked No. 1. Alcaraz, who reached the Monte-Carlo final in April but then missed Madrid, Rome and Roland-Garros with a right wrist injury, has won four titles this season, the latest in Vienna. Sinner, by contrast, will go into the offseason without having played since July, and his readiness for the Australian Open and the 2027 clay swing is now the open question in men's tennis. See the current men's field in our 2027 player entry list and early Roland-Garros 2027 odds, and our player profiles for more on the contenders.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

Roland-Garros 2027 runs May 17 to June 6, 2027, with the main draw beginning Sunday, May 23. Roland-Garros had not opened single-ticket sales for 2027 as of November 3, 2026; the tournament publishes its own sale dates at tickets.rolandgarros.com. GoalTickets, the independent resale marketplace that runs this site, lists resale tickets for Roland-Garros, typically above face value.

Sources: Tennis Majors (venue, draw, seeding and withdrawals), ATP Tour (results), UPI (rankings), Wikipedia (Sinner's 2026 season). Checked November 3, 2026.