Alcaraz Reaches Paris Masters Quarter-Finals as Berrettini Withdraws With Arm Pain

Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters on Thursday, November 5, 2026, without playing a point in the third round. Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their match because of arm pain, and the tournament confirmed that Alcaraz had qualified for the last eight.

Berrettini announced the decision himself on Thursday morning. In an Instagram story reported by TennisHead, he said: "Hello everyone, unfortunately the pain in my arm that I have been carrying for a few days will not allow me to go on the court tonight." He added: "In the next few days I will do all the necessary investigations to better understand what it is."

The tournament announcement, reported by TennisUpToDate, read: "Matteo Berrettini has to withdraw from the Rolex Paris Masters. Wishing you a speedy recovery Matteo. Carlos Alcaraz is qualified for the quarter-finals."

A season that ends early

Berrettini is the world number 43 and reached the Wimbledon final in 2021. The withdrawal ends his season. The LaPresse wire, reporting from Rome on November 5, 2026, said the arm pain had been with him for a few days and that he would undergo tests in the next few days.

He had played his way into the third round in Paris. On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, he beat Ugo Humbert 7-6 (3), 7-5. Before that he beat Brandon Nakashima in three sets in his opening match.

Tennis Majors, reporting from Paris-La Defense, said a Court 1 match was moved to Court Central after the withdrawal, as organisers filled the gap left on the main court.

Alcaraz waits for Fils or Fritz

Alcaraz is the world number three and the second seed in Paris. He beat Alex Michelsen 7-6, 6-3 in the second round after a first-round bye.

In the quarter-finals he will face the winner of the match between Arthur Fils and Taylor Fritz. The Paris third-round results list Alcaraz as the winner over Berrettini by walkover.

This is the first time Alcaraz has reached the Paris Masters quarter-finals since 2022. He has never won the tournament and had reached the last eight only once before this week. With Alexander Zverev out, after Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Alcaraz was already the strong favourite for the Masters 1000 title before the walkover, TennisHead reported.

The walkover gives Alcaraz a day without a match before the quarter-final. It also removes one of the harder names from his path, a former Wimbledon finalist who had beaten a home favourite, Humbert, the day before. What it does not give him is time on the Paris court, beyond the one match he has played so far against Michelsen.

For Berrettini, the next step is the tests he described. No date for a return was given in the reports from Paris or Rome.