Alcaraz beats Fritz in Paris; Jodar secures ATP Finals place
Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-7 (10-12) 7-5 6-3 in the Paris Masters quarter-finals on 6 November 2026, a victory that clinched Spain’s Rafael Jodar a place at the ATP Finals.
Fritz’s loss ended his chance to reach the season-ending event in Turin, Italy, while Alcaraz progressed to the last four in Paris. The ATP Finals will be held at Turin’s Inalpi Arena from 15 to 22 November. Earlier on the same day Tommy Paul was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-3 by Ben Shelton, a result that confirmed Frances Tiafoe’s place at the season finale.
The opening set in Paris was tight throughout, finishing 6-7 (10-12) after a tie-break in which both players had opportunities. Fritz took the first set after edging the tie-break, setting up a momentum swing heading into the second set.
Fritz moved a break ahead in the second set, but Alcaraz responded under pressure, saving two match points and recovering to break Fritz twice to level the contest. That fightback took the match to a deciding set and shifted the balance in Alcaraz’s favour.
In the third set the 23-year-old Spaniard moved 3-1 in front and controlled the decider, ultimately closing out the match with a powerful forehand to seal the 6-7 (10-12) 7-5 6-3 victory. The win simultaneously eliminated Fritz’s hopes of qualifying for the Turin event.
"I tried not to let myself down in those difficult moments - to stay strong mentally," said Alcaraz, who will face either Casper Ruud or Nuno Borges in the semi-finals. "We played incredible tennis, both of us, and I used the energy of the people to give them what they wanted to watch. To entertain them."
The eight players now qualified for the ATP Finals are Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar. Tiafoe and Jodar will both make their debuts at the Turin event, which features the top eight men’s singles players in the world.
Jodar, aged 20, only became a full-time professional at the beginning of 2026 after winning three ATP Challenger titles in 2025 and claimed his first ATP Tour title in Marrakech in April 2026; he also reached the quarter-finals of this year’s French Open and has entered the world’s top 10 for the first time. Jodar is described as a Madrid-born player who hits heavy, high-speed shots loaded with topspin from the baseline, stands 6ft 3in tall, serves several miles per hour faster than the tour average and employs an attacking style that makes him prone to taking risks on big points and in rallies.
Alcaraz now moves on to a Paris semi-final against either Ruud or Borges, while the focus for the tennis calendar turns to the ATP Finals in Turin from 15 to 22 November, where Jodar and Tiafoe will both make their event debuts.