PARIS — Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz was stopped in the Paris Masters quarterfinals by unseeded Holger Rune of Denmark on Friday.
In a match pitting 19-year-old former junior doubles partners, Rune was leading 6-3, 6-6 and 3-1 in the tiebreaker when the US Open champion Alcaraz retired, a few minutes after having treatment on an abdominal muscle at the changeover.
“I thought it was a great match. Unlucky for him,” Rune said. “We both played very well and I was super focused. It was an amazing crowd, amazing tennis, so I’m super pleased with how I handled everything.”
Rune, who won both of his career titles this year, reached his first semis at the Masters level. He next faces eighth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat No. 16 Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 to stay on track for a fourth straight title. The Canadian player had eight aces and faced no break points.
Late Friday, six-time champion Novak Djokovic faced unseeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti, and fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas played unseeded American Tommy Paul, who knocked out Rafael Nadal in the second round.
Djokovic, who has titles in Israel and Kazakhstan this season, is chasing a record-extending 39th Masters title.
Musetti caused Djokovic problems in the French Open fourth round last year, leading by two sets before retiring in the fifth.