Berrettini withdraws, Alcaraz into the Paris quarter-finals without playing
Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from his third-round match against Carlos Alcaraz at the Rolex Paris Masters because of arm pain, sending the second seed into the quarter-finals. A match from Court 1 moves to Court Central.
Matteo Berrettii, Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Chryslène Caillaud / PsNewz
Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from his third-round match against second seed Carlos Alcaraz at the Rolex Paris Masters, scheduled for Thursday night on Court Central. Alcaraz goes through to the quarter-finals without playing. The French Tennis Federation (FFT), which organises the tournament, gave no reason or medical details to explain the withdrawal, but Berrettini later explained on social media that he was suffering from arm pain.
“Hi everyone, unfortunately the pain in my arm that I have been carrying for a few days will not allow me to take the court tonight,” the Italian wrote. “In the coming days I will do all the necessary tests to better understand what it is. Thank you all for the support and affection you show me every day, on and off the court.”
As a result, one of the matches originally scheduled on Court 1 moves to Court Central.
Berrettini’s run ends after two wins
The Italian, ranked No. 43, had beaten Brandon Nakashima on Tuesday to complete his set of match wins at every Masters 1000 event, then beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 7-6 (3), 7-5 on Wednesday. Alcaraz led their head-to-head 3-1, most recently winning in the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2023.
It is a second blow for Berrettini in Paris this year. In June, he retired in tears from his Roland-Garros quarter-final against compatriot Matteo Arnaldi, trailing 5-7, 2-5 with an apparent hip injury, in his first run at the tournament in five years. “I’m so tired of it,” he said afterwards.
Alcaraz back in the Paris quarter-finals
Alcaraz, the World No. 3, beat Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3 in his opening match on Wednesday, after a first-round bye. He arrived in Paris after winning his fourth title of the season in Vienna, where he beat Alex de Minaur in the final.
The quarter-finals are his best result in Paris: the Spaniard has never gone beyond that stage at the tournament. “I’m pretty sure at some point I will do great in this tournament,” he said on Monday, adding that “it will happen sooner than later.”
He will face the winner of Thursday’s night match between sixth seed Arthur Fils and eleventh seed Taylor Fritz on Friday.
