Fritz Misses Out Against Alcaraz: Fails to Qualify for ATP Finals

Taylor Fritz was one point away from winning the second set against Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Masters quarter-final on two occasions. The first came when Alcaraz was serving and Fritz led 5-3. The second came when Fritz was serving at 5-4 and he could not convert it. The match ended 6-7 (10-12), 7-5, 6-3 in Alcaraz's favour.

Had Fritz won the match, he would have reached the semi-finals and taken the last ATP Finals spot from Rafael Jodar. Alcaraz had already qualified for the ATP Finals and will travel to Turin with Jodar.

In the other match, Tommy Paul lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to Ben Shelton. This result ended Paul's hopes and confirmed Frances Tiafoe's place. In Turin, the host nation's hopes now rest on Flavio Cobolli. Jannik Sinner, meanwhile, announced that his five-year partnership with Darren Cahill had come to an end, and that he had closed his season early due to a knee injury.

In the Paris semi-finals, Alcaraz will face Casper Ruud. Ruud beat Nuno Borges 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Shelton will play Luca Van Assche, who defeated Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5. If Alcaraz and Shelton meet in the final, it will be a repeat of their five-set US Open quarter-final. Shelton won that match by taking the final set on a tie-break.