Paris Masters Explained: Format, Points and Prize Money

The Paris Masters is the final ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season, played indoors in Paris just before the Nitto ATP Finals. The 2026 edition runs from October 31 to November 8 at Plenitude Arena, with qualifying on October 31 and November 1 and the main draw beginning on November 2. The singles champion earns 1,000 PIF ATP Rankings points, making Paris one of the last major opportunities of the year to gain ranking ground or strengthen a place in the ATP Finals field.

Jannik Sinner enters the new edition as defending champion after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in the 2025 final. The Paris Masters tennis week also carries extra significance in 2026 because the tournament is marking its 40th anniversary. For fans, it brings elite indoor tennis into one compact week. For players, it can change the final shape of the season.

What Is the Paris Masters? A Quick Primer

The Paris Masters is an ATP Masters 1000 event played on indoor hard courts in Paris. It is the last Masters 1000 tournament on the ATP calendar before the season-ending ATP Finals.

The event was created in 1986 and has been organised by the French Tennis Federation. Since 2025, it has been staged at the arena previously known as Paris La Défense Arena. From July 2026, the venue became Plenitude Arena.

Its late place in the calendar matters. Players who are still chasing ATP Finals qualification can gain up to 1,000 ranking points in one week, while established top players get one final Masters-level test before Turin.

When Is the Paris Masters? Dates and Schedule

The Paris Masters 2026 runs from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 8. Qualifying takes place over the opening weekend, while the main draw runs from November 2 to 8.

The final-day schedule currently lists the doubles final from 12:30 pm and the singles final not before 3:00 pm.

Fans attending several sessions may also want a practical tennis bag for carrying personal gear, clothing and smaller match-day essentials.

How the Paris Masters Tournament Works: Draw and Format

The Paris Masters tennis tournament uses a 56-player singles main draw. The 2026 ATP calendar also lists a 28-player qualifying draw.

The tournament follows a straight knockout system. Lose once and the singles run is over. The highest seeds receive first-round byes and begin their campaigns in the second round.

Singles matches are played as best-of-three sets. The event progresses through the first round, second round, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

This makes the Paris Masters tournament shorter than a Grand Slam but still physically demanding. Players can face several high-ranked opponents within one week, often with little recovery time between matches.

Equipment choices become especially noticeable indoors, where there is no wind and conditions are more controlled. TennisShop.ae carries tennis rackets from Wilson, Babolat, HEAD, Yonex and other major tennis brands for players looking for a frame suited to their own level and style.

Paris Masters Ranking Points: What Each Round Is Worth

As an ATP Masters 1000 event, Paris offers 1,000 points to the singles champion. The latest officially published ATP points breakdown is from the 2025 edition. These values should be checked again when the ATP publishes the final 2026 event breakdown.

These figures are important because the tournament comes directly before the ATP Finals. A semifinal or final run in Paris can produce a substantial late-season points gain.

The strategy document originally listed 600 points for the finalist, 360 for a semifinal and 180 for a quarterfinal. Those numbers do not match the ATP's official 2025 singles table. The ATP-listed figures above are the ones to use unless the 2026 allocation changes.

Paris Masters Prize Money Breakdown

The 2026 prize-money breakdown has not yet been officially published as of October 8, 2026. The latest confirmed amounts are from the 2025 Paris Masters, when total prize money was €6,128,940.

The 2025 singles and doubles payouts were:

These are 2025 amounts, not confirmed 2026 payouts. They provide a useful reference for the level of prize money involved, but the figures should be replaced once the official 2026 announcement is released.

Past Paris Masters Champions and Records

The Paris title has gone to several of the biggest names in men's tennis.

Jannik Sinner is the defending champion. He beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in the 2025 final to win his first Paris Masters title. He completed the tournament without dropping a set and returned to No. 1 in the ATP rankings after the victory.

Recent champions include:

Novak Djokovic owns the tournament record with seven Paris Masters singles titles. His wins came in 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

The move to the larger arena in 2025 also changed the scale of the event. Plenitude Arena can accommodate four competition courts plus a practice court, giving the tournament more space than its former Bercy setup.

Gear Up Like the Pros at TennisShop

Watching indoor Masters tennis makes the differences between player setups easy to notice. Some players rely on control-oriented rackets, while others want more spin or easier power.

TennisShop.ae carries tennis rackets from brands including Wilson, Babolat, HEAD and Yonex, along with tennis shoes, bags and apparel from brands such as Nike and ASICS. Current examples include the HEAD Speed Pro 2026, Wilson Blade 98 V9 and Yonex VCORE 98, subject to stock.

For recreational players, copying a professional racket exactly is rarely necessary. Weight, head size, grip size and comfort should fit your own technique and playing frequency.

Conclusion

The Paris Masters closes the ATP Masters 1000 season with a 56-player singles draw, indoor hard-court conditions and 1,000 ranking points available to the champion.

The 2026 main draw runs from November 2 to 8 at Plenitude Arena, after qualifying on October 31 and November 1. The final 2026 prize-money amounts are still to be announced, so the confirmed 2025 payouts remain the best reference until the ATP releases the new figures.

Fans following the tournament can also explore tennis rackets, tennis shoes, bags and apparel at TennisShop.ae for their own indoor or hard-court sessions.

FAQs

1. When is the Paris Masters 2026?

The full 2026 event runs from October 31 to November 8. Qualifying is scheduled for October 31 and November 1, while the main draw runs from November 2 to 8.

2. How many ranking points does the Paris Masters winner get?

The singles champion receives 1,000 PIF ATP Rankings points because the Paris Masters is an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

3. How much prize money does the Paris Masters winner earn?

The 2026 winner's prize money has not yet been officially announced. In 2025, singles champion Jannik Sinner earned €946,610.

4. Where is the Paris Masters played?

The tournament is played at Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, just outside central Paris. The venue was previously known as Paris La Défense Arena and has hosted the tournament since 2025.

5. Who won the Paris Masters in 2025?

Jannik Sinner won the 2025 Rolex Paris Masters by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final.