Two match points slip away in Paris
Taylor Fritz came within a point of the ATP Finals twice in the second set of his Paris Masters quarter-final and lost both chances, falling to Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (10-12) 7-5 6-3. Fritz first held a match point on the Alcaraz serve while leading 5-3, then another on his own delivery at 5-4. The Spaniard held firm in what the evidence describes as a high-quality contest and advanced to the last four in France.[S1][S2][S3][S5][S6][S7]
A win would have sent the 29-year-old American to Turin at the expense of Rafael Jodar. Instead the Spanish teenager takes the eighth and final berth at the season-ending tournament, which runs from November 15 to 22 and is broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fritz was chasing a third United States presence in the field and a second career victory over Alcaraz in eight meetings.[S1][S8]
How the Turin field now stands
Alcaraz had already secured his place before arriving in Paris, alongside world No 1 Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. Tiafoe's spot was confirmed earlier on Friday after Tommy Paul lost to Shelton in three sets, 6-4 4-6 6-3, which ended Paul's own hopes. Shelton, a US Open finalist, and Tiafoe join the lineup with Jodar completing it.[S1]
Alcaraz has yet to lift the ATP Finals trophy in three previous appearances. Italy's home interest in Turin now centres on Cobolli, because Jannik Sinner ended his season early with a knee problem that has kept him out since he won Wimbledon in July. On Friday Sinner also announced that he and coach Darren Cahill had parted ways after five years together.[S1]
Paris semi-finals and a possible New York repeat
In the Paris semi-finals Alcaraz meets Casper Ruud, who defeated Portugal's Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Shelton faces the home player Luca Van Assche, a 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 winner over the Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, the man who had knocked out Novak Djokovic. A final between Alcaraz and Shelton would echo their five-set US Open quarter-final, which Shelton took in a deciding tie-break at Flushing Meadows.[S1]
