PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev advanced to the semifinals of the Paris Masters by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 6-4 on Friday and knocking the Greek player out of contention for the ATP Finals.
The third-seeded German saved the only break point he faced.
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France's Ugo Humbert gestures during his quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament against Jordan Thompson, of Australia, at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Alex de Minaur, of Australia, returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Denmark's Holger Rune reacts shortly before defeating Alex de Minaur, of Australia, during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts after winning a point as he plays Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Germany's Alexander Zverev waves to the public after defeating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Zverev, the French Open runner-up, next faces 2022 champion Holger Rune for a shot at the title. He's into his third Paris semifinals in the past four years, though he's never won the hard-court tournament.
The first break point opportunity came in the 11th game as Tsitsipas struggled with his first serve. Zverev got the break for 6-5 on an unforced error.
Tsitsipas then saved two set points but squandered his only break point chance with his 17th unforced error before Zverev closed out the set.
Zverev broke again in the third game of the second set to take full control. He rattled off 12 straight points in his final three service games.
With the victory, Zverev became the first player born in the 1990s to record 100 wins over top-20 players. Daniil Medvedev is on 99.
The 10th-seeded Tsitsipas, who reached the ATP Finals for five consecutive years, had 28 unforced errors to 18 winners.
Rune outlasted Alex de Minaur 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in a 2 1/2-hour baseline fight. Rune improved to 3-2 against the Australian.
Grigor Dimitrov's hopes of making the ATP Finals were set back after the 2023 finalist was upset by 2018 champion Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-3 for the first time. Khachanov lost their four previous matches.
Dimitrov was 10th in the race to the top-eight ATP Finals in Turin.
Khachanov improved to 12-1 in the last three weeks after winning the Almaty title and reaching the Vienna final.
He'll face in the semifinals local hope Ugo Humbert, who defeated Jordan Thompson of Australia 6-2, 7-6 (4) a day after stunning Carlos Alcaraz.
Humbert has reached his first Masters semifinal, and he's the first Frenchman to go this far in Paris in seven years.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
France's Ugo Humbert gestures during his quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament against Jordan Thompson, of Australia, at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Alex de Minaur, of Australia, returns the ball to Denmark's Holger Rune during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Denmark's Holger Rune reacts shortly before defeating Alex de Minaur, of Australia, during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts after winning a point as he plays Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Germany's Alexander Zverev waves to the public after defeating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament at the Accor Arena, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani and his dog, celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a raucous on-field party on Friday.
“This is so special,” said Ohtani, who usually only speaks in his native Japanese but addressed a crowd of 42,458 at Dodger Stadium in English. “I'm so honored to be here. Congratulations, Los Angeles. Thank you, guys.”
Fellow Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto added in English, “Thank you, Dodger fans.”
Rapper Ice Cube kicked off the bash by performing “It Was a Good Day,” with manager Dave Roberts dancing and joining in on the lyrics from a blue circular stage in the middle of the field.
“You guys wanted a parade. We got a parade,” Roberts said. “Guys, let's get ready to run this back next year, too.”
Players exchanged hugs and back slaps on the stage as blue-and-white confetti drifted in the air and the team's signature song, “I Love LA,” blared. Their children played on the field, with Freddie Freeman's 8-year-old son, Charlie, leading some of them in jumping up on the lower retaining wall near the crowd.
Players took turns passing around the Commissioner's Trophy.
“Who else has more championships than us in the 2020s?” asked utilityman Kiké Hernández. “Absolutely nobody.”
Roberts introduced Freeman as someone who “ played with one leg and one rib,” in reference to the first baseman's injuries.
“I did everything I could to get on the field for you guys and I’m so glad I did because we got a championship now,” Freeman said. “I can't wait to run this back next year.”
Earlier, seven double-decker buses filled with players, their families and the coaching staff rolled through streets packed on both sides with blue-clad fans. The Los Angeles Police Department estimated the crowd to be 150,000.
“This is incredible,” said Freeman, the World Series MVP. “LA really showed out today.”
Several players smoked cigars and drank beer aboard the buses on the sun-splashed day.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been part of,” pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “I’ve never seen this many people in my life. They’re all Dodger fans.”
A shirtless Hernández hung over the front of his bus with a beer in his hand. Ohtani held his dog, Decoy, in his arms with his wife, Mamiko, nearby.
“I'm totally overwhelmed with the amount of fans who are here,” Ohtani said through an interpreter as the bus rolled along. “It’s been an incredible year. I’m so happy that I was able to contribute."
Asked if he would take his shirt off like Hernández, a smiling Ohtani shook his head and replied in English, “No, never.”
Walker Buehler, who pitched the ninth inning in the Series finale, did a beer bong while wearing Orel Hershiser's jersey from the team's 1988 World Series championship.
“This is crazy, man. I love this,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said.
Fans cheered and waved to the players. The parade occurred on what would have been the 64th birthday of Fernando Valenzuela, the 1981 NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year winner who died days before the World Series began.
The Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in five games, clinching the title with a 7-6 victory in the Bronx on Wednesday.
A portion of the proceeds from the ticketed stadium event will be donated to the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
There were more than a dozen arrests during informal celebrations after the team's comeback win to clinch the Series. Burglaries, vandalism and fires occurred in some parts of the city.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate with fans during the baseball team's World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts tips his hat to the crowd during the baseball team's World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Ice Cube performs during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts celebrates as he walks to the stage during the baseball team's World Series championship parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani holds his dog Decoy during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani waves at fans during the baseball team's World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Fans cheer before the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts waves at fans during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fans cheer as buses carrying players are driven past during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Alex Vesia yells in celebration during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Fans cheer and hold signs before the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Los Angeles City Hall glows in Dodger Blue to celebrate the Dodgers' World Series Championship in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a team picture after their win against the New York Yankees in Game 5 to win the baseball World Series, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A fan holds a replica trophy during the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Fans crowd the sidewalk as they wait for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Fans crowd behind barricades waiting for the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball World Series championship parade Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
