Rinderknech Rallies From the Brink as Cerundolo Retires in Paris

Arthur Rinderknech was one game from defeat before turning his Paris Masters first-round match around in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, eventually advancing when 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo retired trailing 3-6, 7-6(2), 2-0. The Frenchman, ranked No. 68, looked to be heading out as Cerundolo took the opening set and pressed for the finish, but Rinderknech held his nerve, forced a second-set tiebreak and dominated it to level the match. Cerundolo, who appeared troubled by his back and took a medical timeout after losing the second set, could not continue once Rinderknech had taken a 2-0 lead in the decider. It was a gritty, opportunistic win for the home favourite, who fed off the crowd and refused to go away when the match seemed lost. He will now face Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 on Monday, in the second round. Cerundolo's exit makes him the third seed to leave the tournament early, after fifth seed Flavio Cobolli and 13th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina both withdrew. With the race for the season-ending ATP Finals still wide open, every withdrawal and every comeback like this one reshapes the picture, and Rinderknech has given himself a chance to be part of the late drama in Paris.