Rolex Paris Masters: Alcaraz saves two match points and advances to the semi-final

The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, 3rd player in the world, qualified for his first semi-final at the Masters 1000 in Paris after a crazy match, overthrowing the American Taylor Fritz (12th) on Friday 6-7 (10/12), 7-5, 6-3 after saving two match points in the second set.

The 22-year-old Murcian will face the winner of the quarter-final between Norwegian Casper Ruud (23rd) and Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges (49th) on Saturday. The Spaniard had never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Paris, hardly successful since his debut in this indoor tournament in 2021.

In the first set, Fritz and Alcaraz delivered a magnificent duel after an interminable tie-break, during which the two players each had three set points, before the Spaniard gave in to a direct error on the forehand. Still imperious in the service, Fritz continued to attack Alcaraz on his throw-in, who defended like hell before giving in to another direct error.

But, as is often the case, Alcaraz gave free rein to his magic. He saved a first match point at 5-3 and got back to 5-4 at the end of the best point of the tournament, returning a volley returned at the end of the race with a cross drop shot. Fritz, a handsome player, could only smile in front of such a masterpiece.

The Spaniard dismissed a second match point at 5-4 then finally erased his break behind on a direct error from his opponent. Deprived of the first ball, the latter offered the second round to Alcaraz and never recovered. And the seven-time Grand Slam winner only needed one match point to advance to the semi-finals.