ATP Tour

Alcaraz saves 2 MPs, sinks Fritz in Paris late-night thriller

Never count Carlos Alcaraz out.

The Spaniard produced a remarkable comeback on Friday night, when he saved two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-7(10), 7-5, 6-3 and reach the semi-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters for the first time.

“I tried not to let myself down in the difficult moments in the second set,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to stay strong mentally and save those break points and match points. I would say 3-5 serving, that game we played incredible tennis. That point [to hold for 4-5] caused the people to stand up and bring the energy into the match. I used the people and the energy and gave them what they really wanted to watch and I am really happy to play for one and a half hours more to entertain them. The feeling I have today is unmatched.”

Alcaraz's dramatic two-hour, 45-minute victory also had major implications for the upcoming Nitto ATP Finals. By denying Fritz a place in the semi-finals, the Spaniard ended the American's qualification hopes and confirmed countryman Rafael Jodar as the eighth and final player to qualify for the prestigious season-ending event in Turin.

For much of the second set, Alcaraz looked destined for defeat in the French capital. Trailing 6-7(10), 3-5, the 23-year-old saved one match point on his own serve before winning one of the points of the year to hold for 4-5 and keep his hopes alive. The second seed then faced another match point on the Fritz serve, but responded with a blistering crosscourt forehand passing shot. Alcaraz broke back to level at 5-5 before winning the next two games to force a deciding set.

In trademark fashion, the former World No. 1 Alcaraz raised his level when it mattered most in the third set. The Spaniard cut down on baseline errors, increased his intensity and capitalised on Fritz dropping his level to complete a thrilling comeback and reach his third ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of the season. Alcaraz now leads Fritz 7-1 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series and will next face Casper Ruud or Nuno Borges.

Fritz would have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth time had he defeated Alcaraz. Instead, the American leaves Paris 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, with ninth-placed Jodar securing the final qualification spot. The Nitto ATP Finals will be held from 15-22 November, with Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Jodar making up the elite field. Fans can sign up to ATP Unlocked for exclusive coverage in the Nitto ATP Finals Hub.

In one of the matches of the season, Alcaraz struck the first blow of the clash at 2-2 to break the Fritz serve. The American pushed a tame forehand volley into the open court, allowing Alcaraz to spring to his right and whip a forehand passing shot to break serve. However, from 3-5, 15/30 down, Fritz won 11 consecutive points to lead 6-5, before Alcaraz composed himself to force a tie-break.

The Spaniard hit several backhand winners in the tie-break, but it was Fritz who dug in and came out on top. The 29-year-old saved three set points and then clinched the opener on his third opportunity when Alcaraz struck a forehand wide.

Fritz looked like he would seize full control at the start of the second set when he moved to 0/40 on the Alcaraz serve, but the Spaniard wriggled out of trouble, eventually holding when he flicked a backhand pass off his back foot to raise the roof on Court Central.

Yet Fritz was not to be denied for long. The American looked more comfortable in the baseline exchanges and moved to the brink of victory at 5-3 in the second set, but was unable to cross the finish line. Alcaraz hit a purple patch when it mattered to keep himself alive. The Spaniard hit a forehand back behind Fritz to save a match point at 3-5, struck a stunning backhand drop shot to hold serve, and then rifled a passing winner to save a second match point on the Fritz serve.

From 5-5, Alcaraz quickly reeled off the next two games to level and he was more consistent in the decider. The Spaniard committed three fewer unforced errors in the third set compared to the second (11-14) and looked fresher than Fritz, who grew increasingly frustrated having missed his opportunity at the end of the second set.

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Alcaraz lifted his fourth tour-level trophy of the season last week in Vienna and has now won his past seven matches, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Alcaraz is the eighth Spaniard to advance to the last four in Paris and the first since Rafael Nadal in 2020. The 23-year-old will compete for his ninth Masters 1000 crown this weekend.

Did You Know?
It is the seventh time in his career Alcaraz has won a match after saving match points.