Alcaraz Reaches Paris QF Without Playing After Berrettini Injury

Carlos Alcaraz has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their third-round match on Thursday due to an arm injury.

Berrettini, the big-serving Italian, did not specify which arm in his announcement.

He posted a statement on his Instagram story, saying, "Hi everyone, unfortunately the arm pain I've been having for a few days won't allow me to play tonight."

He added, "Over the next few days I'll have all the necessary tests to better understand what's happening. Thank you all for the support and affection you show me every day on and off the pitch."

The withdrawal meant Alcaraz received his first walkover in his professional career.

He advanced to the last eight without playing a single point in the third round.

The second-seeded Spaniard will now face either sixth-seeded Arthur Fils or No. 11 Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals.

Fritz and Fils played their third-round match later Thursday at Plenitude Arena in Paris.

For Alcaraz, this is his second quarterfinal at the Paris Masters, the first since 2022.

Last year, he fell to Cameron Norrie in the second round in three sets.

The 23-year-old Spaniard is chasing his best result in Paris, one of the rare notable events where he has yet to reach the latter stages.

Alcaraz started his Paris campaign against Alex Michelsen and earned a 7-6, 6-3 victory.

In that match, the favorite lost serve once and provided two breaks to emerge at the top after turning the tables in the tie break.

Michelsen led 4-1 in the first-set tiebreak before Alcaraz rattled off six points to secure the first part of the match and gain a massive boost.

Alcaraz denied a break point in the seventh game of the second set and clinched a break in the next one to determine the winner.

The Spaniard arrived in Paris after winning the title in Vienna last week.

He will use the extra time from the walkover to prepare for a challenging quarterfinal clash.

For Berrettini, the withdrawal is the latest in a series of injury setbacks that have plagued his career.

The former world No. 6 has struggled with several physical issues over the last few years.

His foot was his major obstacle during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, which saw him miss the 2024 Australian Open.

This season alone has seen Berrettini withdraw from another high-profile event at the French Open.

He was gradually getting back into his groove on the Parisian clay, winning some marathon five-set matches, before he had to withdraw against his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi due to a hip injury.

This is not the first time Berrettini has withdrawn from a scheduled match against a top opponent.

The Italian was all set for a high-profile clash against Alex de Minaur in the first round of the Australian Open in 2026, but had to withdraw before the match due to an abdominal injury.

He was replaced by Mackenzie McDonald, who played the first-round match against De Minaur.

Berrettini was also hampered by a similar abdominal issue against Alexander Zverev at the 2021 ATP Finals, which saw him retire mid-match.

In Paris this week, Berrettini had shown signs of good form.

He defeated Brandon Nakashima in the first round, saving two match points in the decisive tie break.

The Italian then faced Ugo Humbert in the second round and prevailed in two tight sets to arrange the clash against Alcaraz.

Berrettini and Alcaraz had been scheduled to play one of the most thrilling matches of Thursday's program in the French capital.

The two players have met before, with Berrettini being one of only two players to beat Alcaraz in a five-set battle at Grand Slams.

Whenever the two have faced each other, the matches have been competitive.

But on this occasion, a somber announcement from the Italian robbed the fans of what would have been a highly anticipated matchup.

Berrettini's 62-word statement on Instagram did not provide details about the nature or severity of the arm injury.

He said he would undergo tests in the coming days to better understand what is happening.

Injuries have been a regular feature of Berrettini's playing career.

The Italian has reached a career-high ranking of world No. 6, but physical issues have repeatedly interrupted his momentum.

His absence from the Paris Masters leaves a gap in the draw that Alcaraz is well-positioned to exploit.

The Spaniard is chasing his maiden title at the Paris Masters.

With the walkover, he has conserved energy that could prove crucial in the later rounds of the tournament.

The quarterfinal opponent will be a significant test.

Arthur Fils, the French sixth seed, is seeking a deep run in front of the home fans at Plenitude Arena.

Taylor Fritz, the No. 11 seed, is chasing a spot at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin and has an outside chance of qualifying.