PARIS — Jannik Sinner began his tilt at a maiden Paris Masters crown which would return him to world number one with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Zizou Bergs yesterday, while reigning champion Alexander Zverev battled through a lengthy three-setter.

Following the surprise exit of world number one Carlos Alcaraz at the round of 32 stage on Tuesday, a maiden crown in the ATP 1000 event in the French capital would return Sinner to the summit of the world rankings.

But the Italian second seed showed no signs of feeling the weight of that pressure in his opening match at La Defense Arena — the top eight seeds received byes through the first round.

“I’m very happy to come through the first match,” Sinner said.

“I was very precise, and I also started off with a break straight away, which gives you a bit more confidence.”Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner is known for his efficiency on-court and won through against 41st-ranked Belgian Bergs in one hour and 27 minutes without facing a single break point.

The 24-year-old methodically engineered breaks of his own early in both sets to seal his spot in the third round, where he will meet Francisco Cerundolo today.

Germany’s Zverev battled past Argentine world number 49 Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-5 to open his title defence.

He will next take on Spanish 15th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina following his victory over Frenchman Arthur Cazaux.

A hardfought tie-break separated Zverev and Ugo Carabelli in the opening set, before the 28-year-old cruised through the second in 35 minutes.

It then seemed Zverev might follow Alcaraz in crashing out early at La Defense Arena when the third seed fell 1-3 behind in the decider.

But he hit back instantly on his opponent’s next service game, before securing the crucial break at 5-5 to keep his title defence alive.