The champions fall, Paris will have a new king: this is Alcaraz's path to the title

There are six active players who have won the Paris Masters 1000 ATP. Five of them entered the draw for the 2026 edition, leaving the Italian out from the start. Jannik Sinner, who could not defend crown due to his knee injury. No one has been able to get into the quarterfinals. There will be a new king.

The record seven-time champion of the tournament, the Serbian Novak Djokoviche said goodbye in the second round, as did the Russian Daniil Medvedev who entered the list of winners in 2020. Before him, his compatriot had won Karen Khachanov, in 2018.

Djokovic had not competed in Paris since his last trophy, in 2023, when it was still played in Bercy. The event changed venues two years ago, choosing La Defense, now called Plenitude Arena.

The danish Holger Rune (2022) and the German Alexander Zverev (2024) also said goodbye very early to any possibility of repeating the title in this indoor hard court prior to the ATP Finals, the Masters Cup.

There are eight candidates to collect the ‘Fanti Tree’, whose branches contain the names of the great champions of the tournament, who win this trophy.

The Italian Jannik Sinner, with the Fanti Tree, the trophy that the Paris indoor gives to its championCHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / EFE

Only two members of the world top-10 remain among them, the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (no. 3) and the American Ben Shelton (no. 4), pupil next year of Juan Carlos Ferrero, who joins his father Bryan.

The next best ranked are Taylor Fritz (12) and Tommy Paul (14), which underline the American majority. With Shelton they form a trio thatIt will be an obstacle for Alcaraz, who already faces Fritz in the quarterfinals. This Friday, at 7:00 p.m.

In the semifinals the Spaniard would face the Norwegian Casper Ruudexecutioner in the second round of Rafa Jódar, or the Portuguese Nuno Borgesrefished from the previous phase due to the last minute drop of Alexander Davidovich.

At the top of the draw, the best of the Shelton-Paul confrontation will meet the winner of the unexpected clash between the Australian Rinky Hijikatafrom the previous phase, and the French Luca Van Assche.

Carlos Alcaraz fighting to be the second Spaniard to enter the history of the tournament, which he won in 2012 David Ferrer, who then lost the 2023 final. Rafa Nadal was a finalist in 2007, the same condition of Sergio Casal in 1986 and Andres Gimeno in 1972