Alcaraz gets walkover after Berrettini pulls out of Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the Paris Masters quarterfinals after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their round-of-16 match due to arm pain. Alcaraz will face either Arthur Fils or Taylor Fritz as he pursues his fifth tour-level title of the year

Paris: Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz received a walkover in the Paris Masters round of 16 after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their third-round match due to lingering pain in his arm, the tournament organisers confirmed on Thursday.

Alcaraz, who reached the round of 16 after defeating American Alex Michelsen in the round of 32, has now advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face either home favourite Arthur Fils or Taylor Fritz.

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“Matteo Berrettini has to withdraw from the Rolex Paris Masters. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Matteo. Carlos Alcaraz is qualified for the quarter-finals,” an official statement from the tournament read.

Berrettini also posted an Instagram story announcing his withdrawal. The English version of his statement in Italian reads: “Hi all, unfortunately the pain in my arm that I’ve had for a few days won’t allow me to take the court tonight.

“In the next few days, I will have all the necessary tests to better understand what this is. Thank you all for the support and affection you show me every day on and off the court. Mat.”

Meanwhile, Alcaraz is hunting for his fifth tour-level title of the year. He won the Australian Open and the Qatar Open before being sidelined for months due to a wrist injury he sustained during the Barcelona Open.

He returned at the US Open, where he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Ben Shelton. Alcaraz won the Japan Open in Tokyo last month and also added the Erste Bank Open title earlier this month.

Alcaraz now gears up to face either Fils or Fritz. Fils recently confirmed his place in the ATP Finals, becoming the first Frenchman to qualify for the year-end tournament since Gael Monfils in 2016.

Fritz is 11th in the Race to Turin and needs to reach the semifinals to keep his hopes alive of qualifying for the eight-man season-ending tournament. A top-nine finish will be enough for him, as Jannik Sinner, who is second in the Race to Turin, is missing the rest of the season due to injury.