Medvedev loses to Popyrin in second round at Paris Masters, Zverev advances

PARIS (AP) — Alexei Popyrin upset fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday in a tense match with many ups and downs.

The 25-year-old Australian player, who won his first Masters 1000 title in Montreal this summer, had lost his three previous matches against his Russian rival.

Popyrin and Medvedev combined for a total of 86 unforced errors under the roof of the Palais Omnisports.

Medvedev trailed 4-1 in the deciding set but broke back to force a tiebreaker in which Popyrin played more aggressively. Medvedev double-faulted to give Popyrin a match point and the Australian converted it at the net.

It was Medvedev's third straight opening-round loss in Paris. He has not won a title this season.

A bad call from a line umpire which forced a point to be replayed in the eighth game of the deciding set left Popyrin furious but he recovered quickly and won the replay with a superb forehand volley to erase a break point.

“Stuff like that, I'm trying to let it fire me up rather than put me down,” Popyrin said. “It was tough to take, but it definitely fired me up after that, probably woke me up a little bit, and maybe I played a bit more free.”

Also, third-seeded Alexander Zverev saved a set point en route to a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. Jack Draper eliminated fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.

Eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov stayed in the race for the ATP Finals after rallying past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5.

Dimitrov, who saved all three break points he faced, is in 10th place in the race to earn a spot at next month's ATP Finals, the year-end tournament gathering the top eight players of the season. Dimitrov could qualify if the reaches the final in Paris.

“It’s tough conditions, at the end of the year it’s very tricky,” the 33-year-old Dimitrov said. “Everyone wants to empty their tank completely. I would give a lot to be in (the Finals). I’m in a place where I am still a contender, I’m still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys. This gives me confidence and makes me happy.”

Also advancing was 13th-seeded Holger Rune. The former Paris Masters champion beat Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-2. After hitting a double-fault in the ninth game of the opening set to drop his serve, Bublik was furious at the changeover and smashed his racket on the ground. He then gave it to a spectator in the crowd.

Although big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard lost to Karen Khachanov 6-7 (12), 6-1, 6-4, it was a good day for local players. French wild card Arthur Rinderknech progressed to the third round with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) win over Alex Michelsen. He was later joined by fellow Frenchmen Ugo Humbert, Arthur Fils and Adrian Mannarino.

Another Frenchman, 22-year-old Arthur Cazaux, eliminated 19th-ranked Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (4) for his second career victory over a top-20 player. A so-called “lucky loser,” Cazaux had lost in the final qualifying round but entered the main draw when top-ranked Jannik Sinner pulled out, citing a virus.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

France's Arthur Fils slams a forehand to Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Spectators display a banner reading "Go on Arthur" as France's Arthur Fils plays Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

France's Arthur Fils returns the ball to Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Jan-Lennard Struff, of Germany, returns the ball to France's Arthur Fils during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev rprepares to serves the ball to Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts after winning a point as he plays Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia backhands to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, reacts after losing a point to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, argues with the chair umpire as he plays Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns the ball to Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Russia's Daniil Medvedev throws his racket as he plays Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Alexei Popyrin, of Australia, reacts after winning a point as he plays Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their second round match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)