Sinner routs Zverev to close in on reclaiming the No. 1 ranking

Jannik Sinner routed a weary-looking Alexander Zverev 6-0, 6-1 in a little more than an hour Saturday to reach the Paris Masters final and move closer to reclaiming the No. 1 ranking.

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MATTHEW STOCKMAN Getty Images IGA SWIATEK serves to Madison Keys in the WTA Finals opener in Riyadh.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Italy will replace six-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz at the top if he wins Sunday’s final against ninth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, who needs a win to clinch the eighth and final spot for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.

Auger-Aliassime earlier beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (3), 6-4 in their semifinal at La Défense Arena.

Sinner extended his indoor winning streak to 25 matches, including a victory over Zverev in the Vienna final last weekend. He beat Zverev — the defending champion in Paris — for the fourth straight time to lead 5-4 in their career meetings.

The second-seeded Sinner was up 5-0 in 25 minutes and then served out a first set in which he won 90% of his first-serve points, compared to only 47% for Zverev. He had five break points on Zverev’s serve, converting two of them.

Sinner will bid for his fifth title of the year and 23rd of his career on Sunday; Auger-Aliassime goes for his fourth of the season and ninth overall.