It proved to be a long night for Carlos Alcaraz, as his quest for a maiden Paris Masters title is proving to be a very hard one. He was forced to survive match points against Taylor Fritz in a stunning 6-7(10), 7-5, 6-3 victory, with the match ending at 11pm. However, that was not the end of it.
The Spaniard was forced to work extremely hard against a tricky opponent. He was allowed a day off on Thursday after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from the tournament due to an arm injury. This was very welcoming after his Vienna Open title run last week, meaning that rest is hard to come by these days.
He lined up against Fritz, with the American in desperate need of the win to confirm his return to the ATP Finals. After winning the first set, that possibility was very much on. The seven-time Grand Slam champion squandered three set points, and that could have proven to be costly.
Fritz seized the initiative in the second with a pivotal break. A match point against and on the serve was defended with Alcaraz receiving a silver lining. He did not waste it, winning the second set before marching clear en route to glory. Some of the shots on display were spell-binding, with the Parisian crowd getting a lot of standing practice as they continuously applauded the efforts of both players.
However, it was Alcaraz who prevailed and will face Casper Ruud for a spot in the Paris Masters final.
Carlos Alcaraz is in the Paris Masters semi-final for the first time in his career
Late finish for Alcaraz after Paris thriller
It is not as easy as winning your match then going home. For tennis players, there is still a lot more to do before finally hitting the hay. For Alcaraz last night, that proved to be a late one.
His match did not finish until just before 11pm local time. He would then go on to do his press conference and media duties, have some dinner and prepare for the next contest.
Juanjo Moreno, Alcaraz’s physio, showcased the full scale of this effort. Four hours after the match had culminated, he posted a story on his Instagram page treating him. It probably would have been around 4pm when the World No.3 finally got some shut-eye.
Juanjo Moreno, fisio de Alcaraz, postea una storie ¡a las 3 de la mañana mientras le trata! El partido acabó antes de las 23:00h, pero había que hacer prensa, cenar, ducha… y en el Hotel empezaba ya la preparación del partido de este sábado. Hidratos de carbono ➡️ Reponer glucógeno Proteína Whey ➡️ Preparar músculo Electrolitos ➡️ Rehidratación Luz roja en la zona de la muñeca ➡️ Reduce dolor y desinflama Tratamiento manual ➡️ Relaja músculos Se habrá ido a dormir casi a las 4 de la mañana. Imaginen Ruud, que acabó su partido casi a la 1!!
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) November 7, 2026
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He is going to need every minute of it. It is the first time that he has reached the semi-finals of the Paris Masters, having reached the quarter-final stage just one before in five prior participations. It is one of three Masters 1000 tournaments he has never won, along with Canada and Shanghai, with Ruud his next opponent.
While it may seem that Alcaraz is already on the back foot, Ruud also had to go through a similar process to the 23-year-old, but much later on. He stepped onto court directly after Alcaraz-Fritz had concluded, taking down Nuno Borges in a tight two-set clash. Both players will hope to be fit and replenished ahead of a thrilling semi-final in the French capital.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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