Alcaraz Advances After Berrettini Walkover in Paris

Carlos Alcaraz is into the Paris Masters quarterfinals without hitting a ball. Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their scheduled third-round match Thursday with right arm pain he said he had been carrying for several days, handing the second seed a walkover into the last eight.

Alcaraz was 39-5 coming into the day and already through after beating Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3 on Wednesday. He will face Arthur Fils or Taylor Fritz on Friday, depending on Thursday night's result, and he is still chasing a first Paris semifinal in six appearances.

Berrettini's Arm Forced the Call

"Unfortunately the pain in my arm that I have been carrying for a few days will not allow me to take the court tonight," Berrettini wrote. "In the coming days I will do all the necessary tests to better understand what it is." French coverage had already flagged elbow discomfort during his win over Ugo Humbert on Wednesday.

It ends a strong week for the Italian. Ranked No. 43, he beat Brandon Nakashima to complete a Masters 1000 win at every event, then took out Humbert 7-6 (3), 7-5 with 13 aces. The withdrawal is another hard stop in Paris. In June he retired in tears from a Roland-Garros quarterfinal against Matteo Arnaldi with a hip issue.

Alcaraz Gets the Rest, Not the Rhythm

A walkover is never the preferred way through, but Alcaraz needed the Michelsen win just to match his best Paris result, a quarterfinal. He arrived fresh off the Vienna title and is on a six-match winning streak. ATP Tour noted he leads Fils 3-0 and has won six of seven meetings with Fritz.

The Spaniard is chasing a fifth tour-level title this season. Sitting out Thursday means fresher legs Friday, and it also means he has to find match rhythm cold against whichever American or Frenchman comes through.

Friday's Quarterfinal

Fils clinched a Nitto ATP Finals berth on Wednesday. Fritz is still scrambling for Turin and likely needs to beat both Fils and Alcaraz to keep those hopes realistic. Whoever shows up opposite Alcaraz gets a rested No. 2 seed who has barely been tested indoors this week.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Alcaraz's winners in the quarterfinal. He piled up 26 against Michelsen and will look to dictate early against a tired Fils or Fritz.

Berrettini's run deserved a full match. Alcaraz will try to make the free pass count on Friday.