Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive form in the French capital on Friday, fending off two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz and secure a spot in the Paris Masters semifinals for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old staged a resilient fightback, ultimately prevailing 6-7 (10/12), 7-5, 6-3 after a high-stakes contest.
Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz remarked that it was likely one of the most special performances of his career, noting he would remember the intensity for a long time. The win sets up a semifinal clash on Saturday against former world number two Casper Ruud, who advanced after eliminating Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory.
The match echoed the dramatic nature of his French Open run last season. Early on, Alcaraz appeared sharp, breaking in the fifth game of the first set with a precise forehand passing shot. However, his serve faltered, allowing Fritz to break to love and draw level at 5-5. The subsequent tie-break was an exhaustive back-and-forth, ultimately swinging in favor of the Californian after Alcaraz hit a forehand wide.
Tension mounted in the second set as Alcaraz found himself under pressure. After saving a 0-40 deficit early, he attempted to ignite the Parisian crowd, a gesture reminiscent of his previous five-set battles at Roland Garros. Despite his efforts, Fritz maintained his composure to secure a break in the seventh game. After recovering from 0-40 to hold early in the second set, Alcaraz pointed to his ear and held his fist aloft in a bid to get the Parisian crowd going – the first but not last callback to his five-set Roland Garros epic.
Facing elimination, Alcaraz produced a remarkable backhand slice while stretched beyond the tramlines to stay in the match.
He successfully saved a match point in that game and another in the next, eventually breaking back to level the set before forcing a decider. The former world number one credited the crowd’s energy for his shift in momentum, noting that he began to enjoy the competitive rally once he found his rhythm.
Entering the third set with a distinct advantage, Alcaraz took a 3-1 lead after Fritz pushed a volley wide. Although the match continued to present challenges, Alcaraz remained focused. He eventually served for the match, clinching the victory with a powerful forehand that the American could only clip with his frame. The rampant Murcian had a chokehold on the match and went in front 3-1 in the third set when Fritz pushed a volley wide.
In other quarterfinal action, Ben Shelton overcame Tommy Paul in an all-American encounter, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. These results were significant for the ATP Finals qualification race, as the losses for both Paul and Fritz officially ended their bids for the season-ending tournament in Turin.
Consequently, American Frances Tiafoe and 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar are now set to make their debuts at the Finals, which are scheduled for November 15-22. Shelton, who expressed excitement for his friend Tiafoe’s achievement, will now face Frenchman Luca Van Assche in the semifinals. Van Assche reached the final four after defeating Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. According to one of my best friends, and to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing,” Shelton, Of the 28-year-old Finals debutant.
