Taylor Fritz had a lot to gain in his Paris Masters quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz. With the victory, albeit unlikely, he would move into position to play the ATP Finals in Turin. Fritz had been there before, but with a loss, Rafael Jodar would be in Italy in his place.
Alcaraz, of course, was going to be no easy opponent, though, even on an indoor court. Fritz had only beaten the Spaniard once, and while his serve on a hard court gave him a puncher's chance, Alcaraz was the better-skilled player. The same could be said against anyone he faced.
This made the first set all the more surprising. The American was broken at 2-3, and one could have safely assumed this was just one step on Alcaraz's path to a fairly straightforward win. Instead, trying to serve out the set, the Spaniard was broken at 5-4, and at love. Fritz had re-announced his appearance in the match.
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Taylor Fritz at the 2026 Paris Masters
The tie-break tilted the same way. The American lost his serve at 8-all, but Alcaraz couldn't take advantage, losing the next two points. Fritz then lost his next serve but then held to get to 11-10. He shockingly won the next point off Alcaraz's serve to win the tie-break 12-10.
Still, one might have assumed that losing one set would not mean Alcaraz would lose the entire match. Even after getting a lead in the second set, Fritz was certainly no sure bet to move into the semifinals.
That is the kind of player Carlos Alcaraz is. He is a magician, winning games on ridiculously angled shots that no one else can do. Fritz would need to remain close to perfect on his serve, or the Spaniard would take quick advantage and not let go.
At 5-4 in the second set and trying to serve out the match, Fritz got to match point, helped by a brilliant forehand winner that seemed Alcaraz-like, but Alcaraz never gives up and, with the crowd firmly behind him, he was able to get the break back to even the set at 5-all.
Even down a set, he was seemingly leading and likely going to force a third and final set where he would likely be unbeatable. Alcaraz would force the final set by not dropping another game in set two and taking it 7-5.
The third set was an example of why Taylor Fritz will be remembered as a good player, but why Carlos Alcaraz will be remembered as a historically great one. After having two chances to win the match and not doing so, Fritz was diminished. Alcaraz always played as if he knew he was going to win, even while playing a set down.
As great as the match had been through two sets, Alcaraz ended the drama quickly in the final set. Fritz wasn't going to Turin, but Rafael Jodar was. Carlos Alcaraz made sure of that. The score was 4-1 for Alcaraz in a matter of moments as the Spaniard was coolly and boldly taking care of business.
In the end, the third set ended 6-3 in favor of Alcaraz. For the second straight match against the Spaniard, Fritz had held match point and lost it. He won't forget that anytime soon.
Carlos Alcaraz will next play the winner of the Casper Ruud-Nuno Borges match in the Paris Masters semifinals. One should just pencil in Alcaraz as the winner of the entire tournament.
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