Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Alex Michelsen in Second Round at Paris Masters
The Spanish star advanced to the third round in Paris after a hard-fought straight-set victory over American player Alex Michelsen.
Carlos Alcaraz secured his place in the third round of the Paris Masters following a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 victory over American competitor Alex Michelsen in the second round. Playing his opening match of the tournament in the French capital, the Spanish player did not win as easily as some analysts predicted, but ultimately advanced through the draw.
Michelsen earned his spot in the second round after mounting a comeback victory against Czech player Jiri Lehecka, recovering from a first-set loss to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. Entering the matchup as the world number 35, Michelsen previously faced Alcaraz earlier in the season at the Tokyo tournament, which was won by the Spaniard.
Former American doubles star Ryan Harrison, observing the match courtside for Sky Sports, awarded Alcaraz an 8.5 rating out of 10 for his performance. Harrison noted that while the start of the match could have been cleaner with fewer missed forehands, Alcaraz raised his level during crucial moments.
"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. But then, as the crunch time hit, in that tiebreak when he was down a mini-break, that forehand started firing," Harrison remarked during the post-match coverage.
Harrison further highlighted a key defensive and aggressive sequence in the second set. "Did a really good job there, having to face a break point midway through the second set, saved it nicely with a good aggressive play, and kept that momentum going as he broke and served out the match with comfort," Harrison stated.
Analyzing Alcaraz's historical performance on indoor hard courts, Harrison explained that the Spaniard's superior movement gives him an advantage on slower surfaces, making extended rallies difficult for opponents. However, faster indoor conditions often benefit big servers looking to end points quickly.
Despite being positioned on paper to challenge Alcaraz on what is traditionally considered his weakest surface, Michelsen failed to mount a significant threat as the match progressed. With the victory, Alcaraz moves forward in a tournament draw that has opened up considerably following major upsets.
The second round of the Paris Masters saw a dramatic exit of numerous seeded players, including Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex de Minaur. Only five seeds now remain in the tournament, guaranteeing a new champion will be crowned in Paris this year.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will face Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the third round. The tournament concludes with the championship match scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026.