ARTICLE AD BOX
World number three Alexander Zverev produced a superb performance to outclass former champion Holger Rune 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and reach the Paris Masters final.
Zverev, who reached the final of the French Open in June, will face 2018 champion Karen Khachanov or local hope Ugo Humbert who meet in the other semi-final.
Sustained pressure from the baseline helped Zverev to grab an early break for a 3-1 lead but the German had to work a lot harder in the fifth game before unleashing a couple of booming serves to consolidate it.
The Roland Garros runner-up shrugged off a late double fault to wrap up the opening set on the back of 11 winners at a packed Palais Omnisports in Bercy.
A tighter second set followed as Rune ramped up the aggression by serving and volleying at times, but Zverev took control in the tie-break by racing ahead 3-0 and held his nerve from there to earn a career-high 65th win of the season.