Carlos Alcaraz is into the semi-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters for the first time. The second seed saved two match points to beat Taylor Fritz 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-3 in 2 hours and 43 minutes on Court Central on Friday night, and closed the match on his first match point with a serve and a forehand. He savoured the moment, pointing at the Paris crowd to share the win with them, then wrote on the camera lens: “Semis, you feel very good Pariiiis”.

“Today’s match reminds me a little bit of the French Open final last year,” Alcaraz said on court, recalling the 2025 Roland-Garros final in which he saved three championship points against Jannik Sinner. “The support that I had today was incredible. As I said after the first round, I missed playing in Paris. I understand why I missed Paris, why I miss playing here.”

The defeat ends Fritz’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals. The American needed to reach the semi-finals to pass Rafael Jodar in the race to Turin, a day after beating Arthur Fils to stay alive.

Alcaraz, who had never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Paris, will face the winner of Nuno Borges and Casper Ruud on Saturday.

Alcaraz: “With all the support from the crowd, it was possible”

Alcaraz had fun with the Paris crowd all evening, producing moments of brilliance but also ups and downs, and twice let a lead slip. From the end of the second set, however, he raised his level and never looked back. Fritz, as determined, aggressive and clinical as he had been against Fils on Thursday, had done almost everything right until the closing stages of the second set.

The Spaniard paid tribute to his opponent. “I think he plays unbelievably well. It’s really tough facing Taylor on this surface, which is pretty fast. He plays really flat, he plays really comfortable, he can be aggressive,” he said. “I don’t want to lose myself, because after that, fighting with yourself is really tough. Every time, I have to run, I have to fight, and still be strong mentally to overcome all the problems that happen in the match. I think I did it well today.”

The Spaniard broke first for 3-2 and served for the opening set at 5-4, but Fritz broke back. In a 22-point tie-break, the American saved three set points and converted his third, 12-10.

Fritz broke for 4-3 in the second set and saved a break point at 5-3. With Alcaraz serving at 3-5, he earned a first match point with a crosscourt forehand return winner off a second serve. Alcaraz saved it by charging the net, then held with a short backhand slice at the end of a sprint that brought the Paris La Défense Arena to its feet.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Fritz earned a second match point after a breathtaking exchange of reflex volleys and passing shots at the net. Alcaraz saved it with a passing-shot winner after a tentative approach from the American, then broke back by pushing him into errors. He won the set 7-5, his fourth game in a row.

“I have to say that with all the support from the crowd, it was possible,” Alcaraz said. “That’s for me the first thing and the main reason I came back today. I was really nervous facing 5-4 on his serve. I didn’t want to lose, but the crowd support, the energy, made me feel comfortable. It’s war, it’s still suffering, it’s still a fight. I’m really proud and grateful for what I felt today.”

Alcaraz broke early in the third set and had chances to lead 5-1, but Fritz held for 4-2. The Spaniard then saved a break point in the next game before moving 5-2 ahead. Serving for the match at 5-3, he opened with a double fault, then won four points in a row, the last two with an ace and a serve followed by a forehand.

Rolex Paris Masters 2026 quarter-final results

Ben Shelton (3) d. Tommy Paul (12) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Luca Van Assche d. Rinky Hijikata (Q) 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5
Carlos Alcaraz (2) d. Taylor Fritz (11) 6-7 (10), 7-5, 6-3
Nuno Borges (LL) vs Casper Ruud (Friday, not before 8:30 p.m.)