Alcaraz Reaches Paris Masters Semifinals Following Dramatic Win Over Fritz
Carlos Alcaraz has secured his place in the Paris Masters semifinals by overcoming Taylor Fritz in a hard-fought comeback.
The Spanish star overturned an initial deficit to defeat his American opponent 6-7(10-12), 7-5, 6-3 in a dramatic fashion. Their contest in the French capital lasted two hours and 43 minutes before a decisive result emerged. Although Fritz held two match points during their Paris Masters quarterfinal, he failed to capitalize, allowing his ATP rival to reach the semifinals for the first time in this event.
Alcaraz will next face the victor of the match between Casper Ruud and lucky loser Nuno Borges. Prior to that fixture, the Spaniard reflected on his recent success and acknowledged the significant influence the Parisian audience exerted throughout the evening.
Carlos Alcaraz delighted to entertain Paris Masters crowd
Asked on court after the win how he managed to change the energy in the match and indeed in the arena, Alcaraz said: βWell I tried not to let myself down in those difficult moments that I had in the second set. I tried to stay strong mentally and tried to solve those problems, those break points, those match points down.
βI would say 5-3 serving, I had one or two match points, I donβt remember exactly right now, but I think that game we played incredible tennis. Both of us. Great points. I think that fuelled the people to stand up, to bring the energy into the match.
βI used the people, I used the energy. I would say I gave them what they really wanted to watch today, and Iβm just really happy that I could play for one hour and a half more for them, to entertain them a little bit.
βSo it was incredible. The feeling that I got today is I would say unmatched. And yeah just happy to give myself another chance to step on the court tomorrow and save every chance I got to win the match and kept fighting.β
Tim Henman honoured to watch epic Carlos Alcaraz vs Taylor Fritz match
Alcaraz delivered a remarkable reversal, executing shot after shot of world-class quality to secure the win. Conversely, Fritz is left with a sense of profound regret after squandering a substantial opportunity to cause a major upset in Paris.
Former professional Tim Henman promptly praised the Americanβs strong performance, yet those efforts ultimately fell short of earning him a semifinal berth at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Henman said of the third set on Sky Sports: βYeah itβs amazing. Itβs about playing tennisβ¦ your best tennis at the right times. And Fritz did that for so much of the match.
βYou really felt that the way he would turn things around end of the first set through to the second set when he had his opportunities. But thatβs when Alcaraz just got better and better. And almost inevitably Fritzβs level had to drop off a little bit. He kept fighting in the third set. He had break point to get back at 4-2 on Alcarazβs serve.
βBut it really was just a masterclass of shot-making, incredible winners, athletic ability, the drama, the atmosphere, the crowd also played their part. So yeah, real pleasure, a real sort of honour to be courtside and experience it all so close.β
| T. Fritz | C. Alcaraz | |
| 11/21 (52%) | Net points won | 16/20 (80%) |
| 32 | Winners | 44 |
| 33 | Unforced errors | 41 |
| 70/109 (64%) | Service points won | 79/125 (63%) |
| 46/125 (37%) | Return points won | 39/109 (36%) |
| 116/234 (50%) | Total points won | 118/234 (50%) |
Taylor Fritz vs Carlos Alcaraz point stats
And his fellow former player Ryan Harrison said of the high-quality encounter: βYeah, I mean look, thereβs only a couple of people in the world that could energise a crowd like this. Maybe just Carlos. He could be in a room of one of one.
βWhenever you see a crowd getting behind him, youβd swear he was playing in Spain right now. But even this French crowd is fully behind him. He knows when to pump them up.
βHe was still down a break and Fritz was about to serve for the match. He hits that magical little delicate touch sliding angle that he hit. It was more of a drop shot than an angle to win that game that held the game to then force Fritz to serve for the match. And heβs just standing there getting the crowd going.
βHe understands how much they can help him apply pressure, and also how much this crowd we can hear right now behind us just really help Carlos bring out his best stuff.β
The outcome also significantly affected standings outside the Paris Masters, as Fritz is now excluded from the ATP Finals. Consequently, Rafael Jodar has secured the eighth and final position for the year-end championship in Turin later this month.
