Tommy Paul defeated Richard Gasquet 6–0 2–6 7–6 in the first round of the Paris Masters on hard court, confirming his status as the pre-match favourite despite the odds suggesting otherwise. Paul's opening set was dominant, but Gasquet mounted a comeback in the second to level the match. The decider went to a tiebreak, which Paul secured to advance. The American's ability to recover from a set down and prevail in a tight final set demonstrates resilience against an opponent who showed signs of competitive resistance in the middle stages. Paul's progression keeps his ATP Masters 1000 campaign intact.