Alcaraz, benefited by a crazy Paris Masters: this is how the surprise quarterfinals remain

There are two open fights in the three remaining days of the Paris Masters 1000 ATP. There is the bidding for the new champion trophy, since the best of the eight survivors will enter for the first time in a list of winners where the Italian Jannik Sinner appears as the last name, absent due to the knee injury.

The last two places are also being determined to complete the field of eight participants in the ATP Finals in Turin, which will bring together the 2026 ‘masters’ from November 15 to 22 in that Italian city.

Paradoxically, those who provisionally occupy the seventh and eighth places, the American Frances Tiafoe and spanish Rafa Jodarthey are spectators from a distance because they have already been eliminated.

They depend on the result of the Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. Tiafoe only has one combination left out: Paul winning the final against Fritz. It is more complicated for Jódar, who needs Fritz to fall in the quarterfinals and Paul not to reach the final.

For this, the Madrid native will count on Carlos Alcaraz, who will meet Fritz in the quarterfinals. If the Murcian wins, Taylor will be out of the race for the ATP Finals.

Alcaraz has never progressed to the semi-finals of this Paris indoor, although he always arrived more tired than on this occasion. After eliminating the American Alex Michelsena Thursday of rest since his rival, the Italian Matteo Berrettini, He left due to injury.

Later he learned that his rival will be Taylor Fritz, who beat the Frenchman Arthur Fils by 6-3 and 6-4. The American will play his eighth duel with Alcaraz, who dominates the series 6-1.

The winner will face the Norwegian in the semis on Saturday Casper Ruud or Portuguese Nuno Borges. In the round of 16 they beat the German Jan-Lennard Struff and the Peruvian Ignacio Buse, respectively. By 6-3 and 6-3 the Scandinavian and the Portuguese beat a physically weakened rival 6-0 and 6-2.

At the top of the table the most powerful is the American Ben Shelton, world No. 4. He has an appointment with his compatriot Tommy Paul. The Americans subdued the French. Shelton eliminated Arthur Rinderknech, 3-6, 6-4 and 7-6 (5), while Paul was able to Quentin Halys, 7-6 (3) and 6-4.

The other pairing will be between the local team Luca Van Asschewinner of the Italian Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 3-6 and 6-4, and the Australian Rinky Hijikata, who left out the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry, 2-6, 6-3 and 7-5.

The quarterfinals are played today from 11:00 am: Shelton vs. Paul and Van Assche against Hijikata. In the afternoon, starting at 7, Carlos Alcaraz’s turn, against Taylor Fritz. Casper Ruud and Nuno Borges will close.