Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Alex Michelsen to Reach Third Round of Paris Masters

Alcaraz Survives Michelsen Scare to Reach Paris Third Round

“I broke early, but I made a couple of mistakes [after],” Carlos Alcaraz said following his victory. “He was playing great. It was difficult because he was solid from the baseline.” The Spaniard needed time to settle in, but he found his groove Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters, downing Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3 to advance to the third round, as ATP Tour reported.

The 23-year-old World No. 3 is chasing his first trophy at the French Masters 1000 event, a pursuit that has defined his autumn. With defending champion Jannik Sinner absent and a wave of upsets thinning the top seeds, Alcaraz suddenly stands as one of only three remaining Top-10 players in the draw, alongside Ben Shelton and Arthur Fils.

Transfering captivating tennis from Vienna 👉 Paris 💥 6 wins in a row, 12 successive sets for @carlosalcaraz! @RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/MXLY307zWF

— https://x.com/atptour/status/2118070602414055498

Alcaraz Secures Set Lead with Late Forehand Surge

Alcaraz clinched an early break to take a 3-2 lead in the opening set, but Michelsen immediately broke back. Despite struggling with uncharacteristic errors, the Spaniard eventually found his rhythm in the tie-break. After trailing 1-4, he reeled off six consecutive points to claim the first set, unleashing his forehand wing to close it out.

From there, the match tightened. Alcaraz maintained composure, claimed a key break at 4-3 in the second set, and served out the victory in one hour and 41 minutes. The win improved his 2026 record to 39-5, per the ATP Infosys Win/Loss Index, and extended his winning streak to six matches following his fourth tour-level title of the season last week in Vienna.

Carlos Alcaraz Speaks Ahead Of Paris Debut Following His Vienna Title 🗣️🇫🇷

“I’m going to give him an 8.5; it could obviously be a little bit cleaner from his perspective. Early on, he missed a couple of forehands.” Former American doubles star Ryan Harrison told Yahoo Sports, rating Alcaraz’s performance courtside.

Alcaraz leads 3-1 in his ATP Head-to-Head series with Michelsen, having also defeated the American earlier this season in Tokyo. He is 11-0 in opening matches this year.

The Paris Ghosts

The victory keeps alive Alcaraz’s quest for a first title in the French capital. He carries a 5-5 record at the Rolex Paris Masters, his worst at any Masters 1000 event, according to Tennis Majors. His best result came in 2022, when he reached the quarter-finals before retiring with an abdominal injury against Holger Rune. Since then, the tournament has produced painful exits: a 2021 third-round loss to Hugo Gaston in front of a hostile Bercy crowd, and a 2024 second-round defeat to Cameron Norrie that Alcaraz described as one of the worst matches of his career.

Carlos Alcaraz Kicks Off His Paris Campaign vs Alex Michelsen | Paris 2026 Match Highlights

Carlos Alcaraz told Tennis Majors when asked about his Paris struggles, “I don’t know, to be honest. It’s weird. There were some years that I came here not feeling 100 percent… but there were some years that I felt well… and I ended up losing first or second round, not playing good tennis… at some point I will do great in this tournament, sooner than later.”

That 2021 match against Gaston, when Alcaraz was 18, left a mark. Alcaraz recalled it as “the first time I really felt external pressure,” adding that he learned to “stay focused on yourself” and not let crowd energy affect his mindset. “It was tough, but I learned a lot from it and I grew enormously thanks to that experience.”

Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Alex Michelsen to Reach Third Round of Paris Masters — Photo: Yahoo Sports

A Draw That Has Opened Up

Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe, Alex de Minaur, and Novak Djokovic all lost in the second round, leaving Alcaraz as one of the last men standing. Only five seeds remain in the draw, guaranteeing a new champion will be crowned when the final is contested on Sunday, November 8.

Awaiting Alcaraz in the third round is Matteo Berrettini, who defeated home hope Ugo Humbert 7-6(3), 7-5 earlier in the day. Alcaraz leads their rivalry 3-1 and should beat the Italian fairly comfortably, setting up a potential quarter-final against Taylor Fritz, Arthur Fils, or Tomas Machac. He cannot face a seed in the semi-finals, but could face Ben Shelton or Tommy Paul in the final if he advances.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Alex Michelsen Highlights | Paris 2026 Round 2

With Sinner withdrawn and Zverev eliminated, the 2026 Paris Masters represents arguably Alcaraz’s best opportunity to finally solve the Bercy puzzle. Seven Grand Slam titles and eight Masters crowns later, the case for him breaking through is strong—but the pattern of five appearances without a semi-final has survived everything else he has thrown at it.

Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.