royer’sโฃ Paris โMasters Run Ends in Three Sets
Valentin Royer‘s promising start at the Rolex Paris Masters cameโ to an end with a three-set defeat โagainst Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first roundโ (4-6, โ6-1, 6-4 in 1h59’). โRoyer,โข who enteredโฃ the โคmainโค draw as a lucky loser following withdrawals including Ugo Humbert, initially โฃshowed strong form against the worldโค numberโฃ 15.
Royer โestablishedโ an early advantage, breaking Davidovich Fokina’s serveโข in the fifth โgame toโ lead 3-2. He consolidated this break, โtaking the Spaniard’s serve again to moveโฃ ahead 4-3, and ultimately secured the first set with aโข dominant service game, โwinningโ it 6-4.
however, Davidovich Fokina responded strongly in the โคsecond set.โ He efficiently held his own serve and increased theโข pressure on Royer, โconverting two ofโค four break points to quickly establishโค a 4-1 lead. Heโฃ then โwon the set 6-1,โฃ leveling theโค match.
Theโฃ deciding โคset was tightlyโ contested โฃearly on, with both playersโฃ holding serve. The โขcrucial moment came in the seventh game,โข where Davidovich Fokina โbroke Royer’sโ serve on his third attempt, despite initially facing a โ0-40 deficit.This breakโค proved decisive,allowing the Malaga native to serve for the match.He successfully converted his second match point โฃto secure his place in the second round, much to โthe disappointmentโค of the Parisian crowd.
davidovich Fokina willโฃ now face Arthurโข Cazaux in the next round, after Cazaux’s victory over Luciano Darderi onโ Monday.