Alcaraz saves two match points to reach Paris Masters semifinals

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points to beat Taylor Fritz and reach the Paris Masters semifinals. The 23-year-old Spaniard has reached the last four of this tournament for the first time in his career.

In Friday's quarterfinal, Alcaraz beat Fritz 6-7 (10/12), 7-5, 6-3. In the semifinals on Saturday he will face former world number two Casper Ruud, who advanced by beating Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

The win in Paris recalled Alcaraz's iconic French Open final against Jannik Sinner last season, when he saved three championship points. Once again he snatched an improbable victory from the jaws of defeat and thrilled the Paris crowd.

After the match, Alcaraz told reporters, 'Probably this match is going to be one of the most special matches that I ever played, and I'm going to remember this match for a long time.'

Despite only playing one match en route to the quarterfinals, Alcaraz showed no signs of rust. He seized his first break opportunity in the fifth game of the opening set, whipping a forehand passing shot to move ahead.

Then his serve started to wobble, and Fritz pounced to break to love and level at 5-5. In a tie-break of thrills and spills, both players had set points come and go before Alcaraz dumped a forehand wide to cede the opener to the Californian.

Early in the second set, Alcaraz recovered from 0-40 to hold his serve. He then pointed to his ear and held his fist aloft in a bid to get the Parisian crowd going, a callback to his five-set Roland Garros epic.

But he continued to struggle to make inroads on Fritz's serve, and it was the American who produced the first break of the set in the seventh game. Alcaraz staved off a match point and then secured a hold that kept his campaign alive with a sensational backhand slice from well wide of his own tramlines.

Alcaraz said, 'After that game I started to enjoy it because I just thought I pulled off great shots, great points; I started to smile; I started to bring the energy from the people to the match.'

A fine passing shot saved a second match point in the next game, before Alcaraz wiped out the break and then completed his Houdini act by breaking Fritz again to set up a decider.

In the third set, Alcaraz went in front 3-1 when Fritz pushed a volley wide. He still had to save break points in a match that always threatened another twist, but as it rumbled towards a conclusion, he brought up two match points on his own serve, sealing the first with a powerful forehand that Fritz could only get a frame on.

Earlier, Ben Shelton edged Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal. The defeats for Paul and Fritz ended both players' hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.

As a result, American Frances Tiafoe and Spanish 20-year-old Rafael Jodar are now set to make their debuts at the season-ending ATP Finals, which will run from November 15 to 22 in Turin.

Shelton said, 'Frances has had an outstanding year. One of my best friends, and to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing.' Shelton will meet Luca Van Assche in the last four after the Frenchman ended Australian Rinky Hijikata's fairytale run from qualifying to the last eight.