Carlos Alcaraz produced another comeback in Paris on Friday, as the seven-time Grand Slam champion saved two match points to beat Taylor Fritz and reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters. The 23-year-old won 6-7 (10/12), 7-5, 6-3, and it is the first time he has advanced to the last four of the event.
He will face former world number two Casper Ruud on Saturday. Ruud earlier beat Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. Alcaraz’s latest escape drew comparisons with his French Open final win over Jannik Sinner last season, when he saved three championship points.
Fritz takes the opener before Alcaraz levels the match
Alcaraz had played only one match on his way to the quarterfinals, but he looked sharp early. He created his first break chance in the fifth game of the opening set, sending a forehand past the stranded Fritz. His serve then began to wobble, and Fritz broke to love to lead 5-4 and then held to level at 5-5.
The first set went to a tie-break full of swings, with both players missing set points before Alcaraz hit a forehand wide to hand the opener to the American. In the second set, Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 to hold serve and pointed to his ear to get the Paris crowd involved, a gesture that recalled his five-set Roland Garros win.
Fritz broke again in the seventh game to take the set, and Alcaraz had to save a match point before holding with a backhand slice from well wide of the tramlines. After saving a second match point in the next game, he broke back and then broke Fritz again to force a decider.
“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 said.
Alcaraz closes out the decider after saving break points
In the third set, Alcaraz moved 3-1 ahead when Fritz pushed a volley wide, and he held a firm grip on the match from there. He still had to save break points as the set went on, but he eventually reached match point on his own serve. He ended the contest with a powerful forehand that Fritz could only get a racket frame on.
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.”
Shelton, Tiafoe and Jodar head towards the ATP Finals
Earlier on Friday, Ben Shelton beat Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal. The results ended the hopes of both Paul and Fritz of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
Frances Tiafoe and Spanish 20-year-old Rafael Jodar are now set to make their debuts at the season-ending event, which will be held from November 15 to 22 in Turin. Shelton praised Tiafoe, saying: “Frances has had an outstanding year. One of my best friends, and to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing.”
Shelton will next meet Luca Van Assche in the semifinals. The Frenchman knocked out Australian Rinky Hijikata, whose run from qualifying to the quarterfinals had been a fairytale.
