Carlos Alcaraz will seek his first Paris Masters title this week, hoping for a better run than in Shanghai. World no. 2 spoke with the media ahead of his first match, reflecting on the Six Kings Slam and the most significant prize money in tennis history. Unlike his main rival, Jannik Sinner, Carlos admitted he did not travel to Riyadh only to compete and have fun against the world's best players. The four-time Major winner did that, but the record-breaking prize money gave him extra motivation to seek the title. Ultimately, he finished second, losing the title clash to Sinner and missing a chance to earn $6 million.
Carlos faces Holger Rune in the Six Kings Slam quarter-final
Alcaraz started the Six Kings Slam exhibition from the quarter-final stage, facing his coeval Holger Rune. The Spaniard secured a 6-4, 6-2 triumph in just over 70 minutes, racing into the last four. Carlos dominated with his first serve and kept the pressure on the other side. Rune could not follow that pace, especially in the second set, dropping over 40% of the points in his games and giving serve away three times from five chances presented to his opponent. Holger denied a break point in the first game of the encounter and served well in the upcoming ones, firing an ace in the fifth game and moving 4-3 in front with a hold at 15.
World no. 2 locked the result at 4-4 with a forehand winner and made a push on the return in the next one, causing the rival's mistake and delivering a break. Alcaraz fired service winners in the tenth game, taking the opener 6-4 and gaining a boost. The Spaniard clinched another break in the first game of the second set and provided two fine holds for a 3-1 advantage. Carlos delivered another break in the fifth game with a backhand down the line return winner and held at love a few minutes later for 5-1. Alcaraz served for the win at 5-2 and fired unreturned serves, sealing the deal in style and arranging the clash against Nadal.
Carlos tops Rafa and reaches final
In a battle of two Spanish Major winners, Carlos ousted Rafa 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 18 minutes, moving into the final against Jannik Sinner. The younger player faced no break points, continuing where he left off against Rune and mounting the pressure on the 24-time Major champion. The veteran could not match the rival's numbers and remain in contention, dropping 40% of the points in his games and suffering three breaks from six chances provided to world no. 2. Rafa improved his game after a terrible start but could not fight for at least a set in his first match in two and a half months. The young gun secured a break at love in the first game of the match and landed a service winner in the next one, taking all eight points and building the advantage.
Nadal served well in three consecutive service games to stay in touch. However, he faced issues at 3-5, squandering game points and falling on the third set point after Alcaraz's forehand winner, allowing the young gun to wrap up the opener 6-3. The 21-year-old delivered a break in the fourth game of the second set with a backhand crosscourt winner, moving a set and a break in front. Carlos cemented the break with a hold at love in game five and fired an ace two games later for 5-2. Rafa held in the eighth game with a volley winner before the young gun sealed the deal with an unreturned serve at 5-3, sailing into the title clash.
Alcaraz falls to Sinner in a tight final, misses $6 million
Chasing the biggest prize money in tennis history, Alcaraz fell to world no. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes. The Spaniard erased the deficit in the opener and claimed it in over an hour. However, his serve let him down in sets two and three, allowing the Italian to emerge at the top and lift the trophy. Jannik built an early lead with a forehand winner in the fourth game and held in the next one for 4-1 in no time. Carlos pulled the break back in game seven and held a few minutes later for 4-4. Alcaraz survived deuces in the tenth game and reached a tie break. Sinner erased a 5-2 deficit before missing a forehand in the 12th point, falling behind after 66 minutes. World no. 1 forged an early advantage in the second set and missed a chance to extend it. Carlos erased the deficit and leveled the score at 3-3 before getting broken in games seven and nine, losing ground ahead of the decider. Jannik served well in the third set and kept the pressure on the other side. Sinner provided a crucial break at 4-3 and held in the next one, taking home the title and $6 million.
"I mean, if I say I went to Riyadh just to have fun and play without thinking about the money, I would be lying. We all work for the money; it's a normal thing, and that's how life works. I do not think about money most of the times when I compete. Still, we have to be realistic, as we all want to earn money. The event in Saudi Arabia offered the highest prize money in tennis history, and it was a good motivation to chase the title, at least for me," Carlos Alcaraz said.
