Carlos Alcaraz produced what he described as one of the most special matches of his career on Friday, fending off two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz and reach the Paris Masters semi-finals. The 23-year-old Spaniard won 6-7 (10/12), 7-5, 6-3 at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, marking his first time reaching the last four of the event.
Alcaraz told reporters, “Probably this match is going to be one of the most special matches that I ever played, and I’m going to remember this match for a long time.”
The match began with Alcaraz seizing his first break opportunity in the fifth game of the opening set with a forehand passing shot. However, his serve began to wobble, allowing Fritz to break to love and level the score at 5-5. In a tie-break, Alcaraz lost the opener after dumping a forehand wide.
In the second set, Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 to hold early, gesturing to the crowd in a callback to his Roland Garros win over Jannik Sinner. Despite this, Fritz broke in the seventh game. Alcaraz saved a match point and held serve with a backhand slice. Alcaraz told reporters, “After that game… I started to enjoy it because I just thought I pulled off great shots, great points, I started to smile, I started to bring the energy from the people to the match.”
Alcaraz saved a second match point in the following game before breaking Fritz again to set up a decider. In the third set, Alcaraz took a 3-1 lead after Fritz pushed a volley wide. While Alcaraz still had to save break points, he eventually secured two match points on his own serve, winning the first with a powerful forehand.
Earlier on November 6, 2026, Ben Shelton defeated Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in an all-American quarter-final. Shelton will face Luca Van Assche in the semi-finals after Van Assche defeated Rinky Hijikata. Shelton praised Frances Tiafoe, who will make his debut at the ATP Finals in Turin from November 15-22, saying, “Frances has had an outstanding year. One of my best friends, and to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing.”
The defeats of Paul and Fritz ended both players' hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Rafael Jodar is also set to make his debut at the season-ending showpiece. Alcaraz is scheduled to face Casper Ruud on Saturday after Ruud defeated Nuno Borges 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
