Alexander Zverev suffered a shock early exit at the Paris Masters on Tuesday after he was beaten in straight sets by Lorenzo Musetti. 

Zverev, playing in his first match since becoming the new world number one, let a sizeable lead slip in the first set tie-break as Musetti came back to earn a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 victory.

The Italian has now won four of his six career head-to-head meetings against Zverev, with his reward a tie with Luca Van Assche in the next round. 

Both players struggled to carve out any break opportunities in a tightly-contested first set, with Musetti missing two chances to get the better of Zverev's serve in the eighth game.

Zverev appeared set to take the opening set when he went 5-2 up in the tie-break, only for Musetti to reel off five consecutive points to snatch the early advantage. 

And from there, Musetti maintained his momentum as he surged into a 3-1 lead. Zverev was only able to delay the inevitable, with the top seed's elimination confirmed when his opponent completed a love service game with a blistering ace. 

"It's pretty shocking the level I was able to play in front of Sascha, who was serving really well, especially in the first set," Musetti said after his victory.

"It was really close. It could have gone both ways. The key was to stay there at 5/2. I played five great points in a row."

Statement MADE by Musetti! @Lorenzo1Musetti puts in a stellar performance to prevail 7-6(5), 6-2 @RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters https://t.co/ZCg3sbnubT

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 4, 2026

But Zverev was not the only top-10 seed to suffer an early exit in the French capital, with Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe also bowing out after just one match.

Medvedev, who won the tournament back in 2020, was beaten by Ignacio Buse, who produced a stunning display to win 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 39 minutes.

And Tiafoe's hopes of becoming the first American since Jack Sock in 2017 to win the Paris Masters were ended at the first hurdle by Quentin Halys.

Home hope Halys saved four match points on his way to a 6-3 1-6 7-6 (11-9) triumph, while also helping compatriot Arthur Fils secure his spot in the ATP Finals. 

Magic Musetti proves to be Zverev's kryptonite again

Since the event's inauguration in 1986, Zverev was only the second German player to hold the top seed at the Paris Masters after Boris Becker (1986 and 1989), but he was not able to repeat the heroics of his title run in 2024 as he suffered a surprise early exit. 

But Musetti so often raises his level against these opponents. He has won four of his five matches against players inside the top 10 of the ATP rankings this season, with his sole defeat coming via retirement against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open (quarter-finals) – all four wins have come on hard court.

And following victories over Flavio Cobolli (Lyon) and Tiafoe (Vienna), Musetti claimed three consecutive wins over ATP top 10 opponents for the first time in his career.

Musetti is the third Italian since the ATP Rankings were published in 1973 to defeat the world number one on multiple surfaces after Corrado Barazzutti and Jannik Sinner.