Carlos Alcaraz Advances as Djokovic and Zverev Face Early Exits at Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz continues his run in the Paris Masters, while top contenders including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev were unexpectedly eliminated early. Alcaraz defeated Alex Michelsen with a score of 7-6(4), 6-3, marking his sixth consecutive win following his victory at the Vienna Open last week.

The Spaniard now stands as the highest-ranked player still competing, especially after new world number one Alexander Zverev was ousted by Lorenzo Musetti in his opening match.

Zverev’s loss was among several seeded players falling on day three of the tournament. Djokovic was upset by Rinky Hijikata, and other notable names such as Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex de Minaur also exited the competition. After these surprising outcomes, Alcaraz shared his thoughts on the situation.

Alcaraz Reacts to the Early Defeats of Djokovic and Zverev

Following his win over Michelsen, Alcaraz spoke to the media in Paris. When asked about the losses suffered by Zverev and Djokovic, he acknowledged the impact on the draw but emphasized his focus remains on his own performance. The world number three also pointed out the challenge posed by the Paris Masters, which is one of the few remaining one-week ATP 1000 events.

"Of course I like to look at the draw," said Alcaraz. "I love watching the matches. The Masters 1000 events in a week mean we can see great matches from the first round. Every round is really difficult; it could be like a final of a 500 or even a 1000, so you have to be ready and really focused on every round. It’s been a tough day for the top guys, but I try not to think about it and just step out there playing my best and enjoy."

At this stage of the tournament, the only top 10 seeds left are Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, and Arthur Fils.

Challenges Faced by Alcaraz in His Opening Match

Although Alcaraz has avoided early elimination unlike many other top players, he has historically struggled to advance beyond the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters. He admitted that the court speed was a challenge once again during his first match this year, as well as dealing with the aggressive style of his opponent Michelsen.

"The court was much faster compared to Vienna, which made it difficult at the start," Alcaraz explained. "I knew the day would be tough because facing Alex is always hard. He plays flat and aggressive, has a big serve, and tries to get to the net often—it's tough no matter the conditions. I hadn’t played on this court before, so it was the first time feeling the court speed and how the balls react, which was on my mind."

"I'm really happy I handled it well, played strong mentally when difficulties came. Today gave me great feedback on how to play on this court and how to move. I understand the game better now and can’t wait to play again tomorrow."

Alcaraz aims to reach the quarter-finals at Paris for the first time since 2022. His next opponent will be former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. This encounter will be their fifth meeting, with Alcaraz leading 3-1 in their head-to-head record.