Follow us on Google Discover The main draw of the Paris Masters is officially underway after qualifying for the event wrapped up on Sunday.
For the first time in over four years, American star Jenson Brooksby failed to qualify for a Masters tournament, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp.
Meanwhile, home hope Adrian Mannarino also missed out on a place in the main draw in Paris after losing to Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets.
Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
With the bracket for the tournament complete, the 2025 Paris Masters boasts a star-studded lineup and promises to be a compelling finish to the Masters series.
However, there is one entrant in the competition that many fans think should not be there whatsoever.
Fans criticise rule after Reilly Opelka wins lucky loser draw in Paris
American ATP star Reilly Opelka won the lucky loser draw to claim a spot in the main draw of the Paris Masters.
The Laver Cup champion won his first match in qualifying against Mattia Bellucci, but withdrew from his second match, in which he was scheduled to play Aleksandar Vukic.
His qualification for the tournament, despite pulling out of his clash with Vukic, has caused outrage among fans, with one X user stating: “That’s absolutely ridiculous and I was certain not allowed. How on earth can a player who gives a walkover or retires in a match be eligible for lucky loser still?”
Another fan said: “Qualifying is part of the tournament. If you withdraw from the tournament, you should be out. No take-backs.”
Shameful that Opelka can still be LL
— Bécart Paul (@becart_paul) October 26, 2025
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This fan argued: “The rule needs to be changed. No way could you be able to withdraw (or retire) in qualifying and then be able to take a lucky loser spot.”
One user described the rule as ‘clearly flawed’, while another said ‘the system is broken’.
Finally, this fan said: “Regardless of who Opelka plays, I will be cheering on his opponent this week, out of spite against whoever let him be a lucky loser.”
Reilly Opelka’s first-round opponent at the Paris Masters
Following a controversial qualification for the tournament, Opelka will now face Corentin Moutet in the first round of the Paris Masters, with the Frenchman in impressive form recently.
Moutet reached the final of the Almaty Open earlier this month, where he narrowly lost to Daniil Medvedev, but he then beat the Russian en route to the quarterfinals in Vienna.
At tour-level events, Moutet has played Opelka just twice before, having first faced him in Lyon during the 2019 season.
The US star lost that match, but earned revenge at the Cincinnati Open in 2021, winning in three sets.
- 2019: Moutet beats Opelka in Lyon, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
- 2021: Opelka beats Moutet in Cincinnati, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4
Though they have not faced each other on the ATP Tour since then, the two met at a Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence earlier this season, where Opelka came out on top in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6.
With two of their three meetings coming on clay, their clash at the Paris Masters will be just their second on hard court, and first indoors.