Rublev Crashes Out of Paris Masters in Second Round

Russian star Andrey Rublev's hopes of a deep run at the Paris Masters were dashed on Wednesday as he suffered a disappointing defeat in the second round.

Rublev, the sixth seed, was outplayed by American Maxime Cressy in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in a match that lasted just over an hour.

The Russian struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match, making uncharacteristic errors and failing to convert any of his three break point opportunities.

Meanwhile, Cressy served superbly, firing 12 aces and winning 82% of his first-serve points.

The American's victory marks a significant upset, as Rublev had been in impressive form coming into the tournament, having won his last two titles in Gijon and Vienna.

Cressy will now face either Karen Khachanov or Alexander Bublik in the third round.

Analysis

Rublev's defeat is a surprise, given his recent form and seeding at the tournament.

The Russian has been one of the most consistent performers on the ATP Tour this season, winning four titles and reaching the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters.

However, he has struggled in recent weeks, losing in the first round of the Vienna Open and the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters.

Cressy, on the other hand, has been in good form, reaching the final of the Antwerp Open last month.

The American's serve-and-volley game is well-suited to the fast indoor courts in Paris, and he will be confident of causing more upsets in the tournament.

Conclusion

Rublev's defeat is a blow to his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals, which will be held in Turin next month.

The Russian will need to bounce back quickly and perform well in the remaining tournaments of the season if he wants to secure his place in the prestigious season-ending event.

Cressy's victory is a major boost to his confidence, and he will be aiming to continue his good form in the Paris Masters.