Carlos Alcaraz Taylor Fritz Paris Masters quarter-final ball kid incident, Digi Mart USA News: Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz rushed over when a ball girl took a tumble early in their Paris Masters quarter-final.
Fritz was serving under pressure at 2-2 (30-30) when a ball kid ran back to the corner to assume her position, but seemed to lose her footing and fell down. Photographers and other staff in the corner quickly came to her aid.
Fritz had been about to serve, but when he realized what happened, he came straight over, and Alcaraz crossed the net to check on her too.
It was the second day running that a ball kid had been hurt during a match in Paris. On Thursday evening, a ball girl was hit in the face after Fritz hit a serve against Arthur Fils.
The ball rebounded off the backboard and made contact with her. She tried to shake it off but became emotional, and Fils walked over to help her off the court.
Commentator Daniela Hantuchova said the ball girl appeared to have twisted her ankle as she fell during the Alcaraz vs. Fritz match.
Adam Fielder noted that the incident happened in the same corner as the previous day’s injury, adding that he believed she was alright and would receive the treatment she needed.
The ball girl was quickly helped off the court as others gathered to make sure she was covered. Another ball kid took up the position in the corner, and after a brief delay, Alcaraz returned to his end of the court while Fritz prepared to serve again at 30-30.
Alcaraz won a backhand exchange and then hit a forehand winner to claim the first break of the match. The Spaniard later faced break points but saved three to move ahead 5-3.
Fritz came within two points of taking the set in the next game but held serve to close the gap to 5-4. As Alcaraz served for the set, Fritz broke back to love.
Fritz then came within two points of winning the set on Alcaraz’s serve, but the 23-year-old held to force a tiebreak. Set points came and went for both men before Fritz took the opening set 7-6(10) after more than an hour on court when Alcaraz sent the ball wide.
This was the eighth meeting between Alcaraz and Fritz, and the quarter-final was delayed when the day session ran long. Organizers cleared out daytime ticket holders and admitted those with night session tickets before play could begin, and the match started almost an hour later than planned.
The match was crucial for the ATP Finals, as the result would decide who claimed the final spot in Turin. Earlier in the day, Ben Shelton beat Tommy Paul, qualifying Frances Tiafoe for the year-end championships for the first time in his career.
Tiafoe joined Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz, Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils.
Only Fritz and Rafael Jodar remained in contention for the last place, with Fritz’s fate in his own hands. A win over Alcaraz would seal his place in Turin, while a defeat would send Jodar to the ATP Finals.
