Alcaraz Reaches Quarterfinals Without a Swing as Berrettini Withdraws

Carlos Alcaraz has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Rolex Paris Masters without playing a single point in the third round.

Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their scheduled match on Thursday, November 5, citing arm pain that had been bothering him for several days.

The Italian announced his decision in a 62-word statement posted to his Instagram story.

"Hi everyone, unfortunately the arm pain I've been having for a few days won't allow me to play tonight," Berrettini wrote.

"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 handed Alcaraz the first walkover of his professional career.

Alcaraz, the world No. 3, had arrived in Paris after winning the Vienna Open title last week.

He began his Paris Masters campaign with a straight-sets win over American Alex Michelsen in the second round, winning 7-6, 6-3.

In that match, Alcaraz lost serve once but broke Michelsen twice, turning the tide in the tiebreak after trailing 4-1.

Berrettini had earned his spot in the third round with two hard-fought wins.

On November 3, he defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8), saving two match points in the deciding tiebreak.

The next day, he beat French favorite Ugo Humbert 7-6(3), 7-5, recovering from a 4-1 deficit in the second set.

Those two wins were historic for Berrettini — they were the first main-draw victories of his career at the Paris Masters.

The former Wimbledon runner-up arrived in Paris after reaching the quarterfinals of the Vienna Open on October 30.

In Vienna, he defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round and advanced past Flavio Cobolli after Cobolli retired while trailing 5-2 in the second set.

Berrettini's Vienna run ended with a 7-6(4), 6-2 loss to Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.

The Italian has a long history of injuries that have disrupted his career.

He struggled with foot problems during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, which forced him to miss the 2024 Australian Open.

Earlier this year, Berrettini withdrew from the 2026 Australian Open before his first-round match against Alex de Minaur due to an abdominal injury.

Mackenzie McDonald replaced him in that match.

At the 2021 ATP Finals, Berrettini retired mid-match against Alexander Zverev with a similar abdominal issue.

This season also saw him withdraw from the French Open while leading Matteo Arnaldi, citing a hip injury.

Berrettini had been playing some of his best tennis on the Parisian clay before that withdrawal, winning several marathon five-set matches.

His arm injury at the Paris Masters is the latest in a series of physical setbacks that have kept him from building sustained momentum.

For Alcaraz, the walkover provides an unexpected rest day in the middle of the tournament.

The Spaniard is chasing his first Paris Masters title, one of the few notable events where he has not yet reached the later stages.

This is his second quarterfinal appearance in Paris, the first since 2022.

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

Alcaraz will face either American Taylor Fritz or Frenchman Arthur Fils in the quarterfinals.

Fritz is chasing a spot at the ATP Finals, while Fils is seeking a deep run in front of his home crowd.

The Paris Masters has already seen several major upsets this week.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev both suffered shock defeats earlier in the tournament, shaking up the draw.

Alcaraz is now one of the favorites to lift the trophy, especially with the extra rest from the walkover.

Berrettini has not yet provided details about the specific nature of his arm injury.