Carlos Alcaraz moves to Paris Masters last eight as Matteo Berrettini exits with injury

Carlos Alcaraz moved directly into the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters after Matteo Berrettini pulled out of their third-round match on Thursday because of an arm injury. Berrettini, ranked 43rd in the world, announced on social media that pain he had felt for a few days stopped him from playing the evening fixture in the French capital. He added that he will undergo medical tests soon to find out the exact problem.

Next Match

Alcaraz received a free pass to the last eight following his earlier win over Alex Michelsen. The second seed will now play the winner of the match between French player Arthur Fils and American competitor Taylor Fritz.

Season Record

The Spanish player is aiming for his fifth trophy of the year at this tournament. His previous wins this season include the Australian Open, the Qatar Open, the Japan Open, and the Vienna Open last week. Alcaraz previously spent over four months sidelined with a wrist injury, but he has already qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin and holds a 39-5 win-loss record this year.

Context

A walkover happens in tennis when one player cannot start a match, allowing their opponent to advance automatically without playing. Top players like Alcaraz manage busy schedules across multiple international tournaments while trying to stay fit for major year-end events.