Carlos Alcaraz survived in a thriller against Taylor Fritz after saving two match points to reach the Paris Masters semi-finals.
Alcaraz beat Fritz 6(10)-7, 7-5, 6-3 in a two hour and 45 minute battle where he came from 5-3 down in the second set and saved two match points.
Advertisement
This result was also significant in terms of the race to the ATP Finals, with Alcaraz officially ending Fritz’s hopes of qualifying, instead confirming Rafael Jodar as the last entrant into the year-end tournament in Turin.
After reaching the semi-finals of the Paris Masters for the first time in his career, Alcaraz was asked to rank this victory in terms of his career.
Carlos Alcaraz calls his win over Taylor Fritz ‘one of the most special’
Alcaraz lost the first set against Fritz in a tie-break, where he had three set points, but he actually served for the set at 5-3 up. When speaking to press after the match, Alcaraz admitted that he got nervous at this point and expressed the regrets he has about his missed opportunities in the first set tie-break.
Advertisement
“I started the match really well, but suddenly I just felt the nerves 5-4 serving in the first set,” confessed Alcaraz. “I felt nervous. I think he started to play more solid, to play a little bit better from the baseline. When I didn’t get free points with the serve, I just struggled a little bit how to play from the baseline, which made it even more difficult for me.
“Tie-break I had my chances that I didn’t take the most of them, making decisions that I regret to be honest and second set, kind of the same feeling, kind of the same thing, but after that 5-3 I saved that game, I started to pull all the nerves, I started to enjoy because I just pull off great shots, great points, I started to smile.
“I started to bring the energy from the people to the match, I tried to use their energy, tried to make them entertain a little bit and after that I started to enjoy every single second, every single point and that’s what was the key today.”
After making this declaration about his nerves, Alcaraz was asked where he ranked his victory over Fritz in terms of his career. Alcaraz has already won seven Grand Slam titles, but he called beating Fritz in such dramatic fashion ‘one of the most special’ victories of his career so far and a match that he would not forget for some time.
Advertisement
“Probably this match is going to be one of the most special that I ever played and I’m going to remember this match for a long time,” answered Alcaraz. “I have to figure out what happened at the beginning, why I played so nervous and once again I realised that I just have to enjoy this.
“At the end of the day this is just a game, if I lose, if I win, it’s just a game. It’s about stepping on the court, having fun, playing the best that I can, entertaining the people and then leaving the court, even if I lose or win, everybody happy. So I’m going to try to do that in every match, but after that 5-3 I started to have fun.”
Casper Ruud comments on Carlos Alcaraz ahead of their Paris Masters semi-final
Alcaraz will now hope to put any nerves behind him, as he looks to reach the Paris Masters final. In the semi-final, Alcaraz will face Casper Ruud, who beat Nuno Borges in his quarter-final.
Advertisement
This will be an eighth meeting between Alcaraz and Ruud, with the former dominating their head-to-head after winning six of their seven previous meetings. This includes the final of the US Open in 2022, where Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title.
However, Ruud’s only win in their head-to-head did come in their only previous encounter on indoor hard courts at the ATP Finals in 2024.
|
Year |
Tournament |
Result |
|
2021 |
Marbella Open (QF) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 6-2 6-4 |
|
2022 |
Miami Open (F) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 7-5 6-4 |
|
2022 |
US Open (F) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 |
|
2023 |
China Open (QF) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 6-4 6-2 |
|
2024 |
ATP Finals (RR) |
Ruud beat Alcaraz, 6-1 7-5 |
|
2025 |
Japan Open (SF) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 3-6 6-3 6-4 |
|
2026 |
Indian Wells (R16) |
Alcaraz beat Ruud, 6-1 7-6(2) |
When asked about Alcaraz ahead of facing him in the French capital, Ruud was full of compliments for the world number three, who he claimed is ‘so good for tennis’.
“Yeah, we had some tough matches,” said Ruud. “He won the majority of them and really taught me a few lessons here and there and some of my biggest matches in my career, I saw him on the other side of the net.
Advertisement
“You know he’s a fantastic guy, great person, funny guy to be around and so good for tennis. It’s always a joy to play tennis with him and I’ve been fortunate to be on the winning side once and let’s see with what I can come up with tomorrow.”
Alcaraz and Ruud will battle it out for a place in the Paris Masters final on Saturday, November 7, with the winner facing either Ben Shelton or home favourite Luca Van Assche.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
