Sinner's No 1 bid starts with 2nd-round win at Paris Masters

Family affair

Valentin Vacherot came out on top again in the battle of the cousins as he beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4.

"It was very physical. Mentally, it was hard, as well," Vacherot said. "We were very tense, I think the crowd could see it."

A little more than two weeks ago, Vacherot won the Shanghai Masters final against Rinderknech, making a run from qualifying in China to win his first career tournament.

The 40th-ranked Vacherot, who is from Monaco, plays Norrie next.

A bad day for the host country was compounded when the last hometown favorite standing, Corentin Moutet, went down in straight sets to fellow maverick, the fiery Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

Afterwards on-court, Bublik quipped that the local-born Moutet would at least not have far to go home now that he was eliminated.

"I don't think it was personal," Moutet said. "Some people talk, some people don't. I guess he's part of the first category.

"He loves to verbally clash with people."

Russian 10th seed Karen Khachanov ground out a victory over Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca 6-1,3-6, 6-3 and will meet Australian sixth seed Alex de Minaur in the round of 16 on Thursday.

Agencies via Xinhua