Carlos Alcaraz came back from the edge to pull off a stunning upset over Taylor Fritz in Paris, ending Fritz’s hopes in Turin.
Chris OddoNovember 6, 20263 minutes of reading
So close, yet so far.
Taylor Fritz had two match points to earn what would have been a stunning upset over Carlos Alcaraz on Friday night in Paris – and a ticket to the ATP Finals in Turin – but the American was ultimately denied as the seven-time Grand Slam champion staged a thrilling escape to emerge with a thrilling 6-7(10), 7-5, 6-3 victory in the City of Lights.
For Alcaraz, this victory marks his first trip to the semi-final of the Paris Masters. He improves to 40-5 this season and extends his current winning streak to seven straight victories.
“I tried not to let myself down, you know, in those tough moments that I had in the second set,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to stay mentally strong.”
Fritz’s loss marks the second consecutive time he has lost to Alcaraz from match point. This also happened in London at the Laver Cup in September, where the Spaniard claimed a 6-3, 4-6, 13-11 victory in a deciding match.
Carlos Alcaraz – Career won after saving a match point
| Tournament | Round | Opponent | Match points saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Paris | Quarter final | Taylor Fritz | 2 |
| Laver Cup 2026 | Round robin tournament | Taylor Fritz | 2 |
| Roland-Garros 2025 | Final | Jannik sinner | 3 |
| 2023 Cincinnati | Semi-final | Hubert Hurkacz | 1 |
| US Open 2022 | Quarter final | Jannik sinner | 1 |
| Roland-Garros 2022 | Round 2 | Albert Ramos-Vinolas | 1 |
| Barcelona 2022 | Semi-final | Alex de Minaur | 2 |
| Total: 7 victories | 12 |
Alcaraz, 23, improves to 7-1 lifetime against Fritz and will face either Casper Ruud or Nuno Borges in Saturday’s semifinals.
Earlier on Friday, Luca Van Assche and Ben Shelton set up a semi-final clash in the first half, with Shelton’s 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Tommy Paul sending Frances Tiafoe into the ATP Finals field for the first time.
Fritz would have made three Americans in the same field at the ATP Finals for the first time in 30 years, but Rafael Jodar clinched the eighth and final place, thanks to the heroism of his compatriot.
Fritz, who saved three set points to win a gripping first set, was in control in the second set after landing a break of serve for 4-3. He then saved a break point to keep the score at 5-3, but Alcaraz was far from finished.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, delivered his breathtaking tennis at the end of the second set. He was not at his best throughout the match, and was particularly out of shape at the end of the first, but his high level of tennis late in the second proved to be the catalyst for a steady march to victory.
The Spaniard saved a match point on serve at 5-3, snatching a forehand winner past a wrong-footed Fritz, then saved another with Fritz serving at 5-4.
“I would say at 5-3, serving… I think that match, we played incredible tennis, both of us. Very, very good points. I think it made people stand up, bring some energy into the match.”
With the Paris faithful now running out of steam, Alcaraz gave them what they wanted – a third set – by breaking again, converting his third set point for 7-5 to force a deciding match.
The third set moved quickly, with Alcaraz now capitalizing on his momentum and Fritz unable to match it.
“I used the people. I used the energy,” Alcaraz said. “I would say I gave them what they really wanted to watch today, and I’m just really happy that (we) could play another hour and a half, for them, to entertain them a little bit.
“It was an incredible evening. The feeling I had today is, I would say, unparalleled.
“I’m just happy to give myself another chance to get on the field tomorrow. I kept every chance I had to win the game and kept fighting.”
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