The season is winding down and the last Masters is here! The 1000 event in Paris kicks off on October 25, and the stars are ready for one final push. Carlos Alcaraz has had quite a season behind him. Eight titles, two Grand Slams, and a return to the No.1 ranking. He’s cruising toward the ATP Finals in Turin, leading the field with 11,040 points. But the Paris Masters is still a hurdle he hasn’t conquered, and the road ahead is tricky.

The Spaniard arrives in Paris with a first-round bye, ready to begin from the second round. His opener will be against either Cameron Norrie or Sebastian Baez. Against Norrie, Alcaraz holds a strong head-to-head lead, winning five of their seven meetings and dominating on hard courts. Facing Baez would bring similar comfort; Carlos has won all three of their previous matches, including their latest clash at the Japan Open without dropping a set. Either way, once he gets past this stage, the real challenge begins.

Next for him could be Jiri Lehecka, Valentin Vacherot, or Arthur Rinderknech in the third round. Alcaraz leads Lehecka 3-1, often sealing wins in straight sets. Their last meeting at the U.S. Open followed the same pattern, with Carlos in control. His record against Rinderknech is even more one-sided. The World No.1 has swept all four of their matchups, losing just two sets since 2021. If it’s Vacherot, Alcaraz would again enter as the heavy favorite. The Monaco player is still searching for big wins at this level and has never faced Carlos before. Still, he’s coming off a title run at the Shanghai Masters, and that momentum could spice things up.

If Alcaraz moves into the quarterfinals, a clash with Casper Ruud or Felix Auger Aliassime could follow. He leads Ruud 5-1, though the Norwegian stunned him at the 2024 ATP Finals. Aside from that rare loss, Carlos Alcaraz has dominated, including their recent meeting in Tokyo. If Felix is the opponent instead, the rivalry is tighter, but Alcaraz still holds a 4-3 edge and remains the favorite on hard surfaces.

In the semifinals, his potential opponents include World No.4 Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Karen Khachanov, or Alexander Bublik. Alcaraz leads Fritz 4-1, with their last meeting ending in a smooth win for the Spaniard in Tokyo. The American’s only victory came earlier this season at the Laver Cup. Against de Minaur, Alcaraz is perfect at 4-0, winning cleanly every time. His record against Khachanov is equally dominant. He’s won all five of their encounters without dropping a set. Bublik, though unpredictable, hasn’t made a major Masters breakthrough. No matter who advances, Alcaraz stands tall in every matchup.

If he reaches the final, possible rivals from the bottom half include Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, or Ben Shelton. His rivalry with Sinner sits at 10-5 in his favor, and the Italian has confirmed his participation after the Vienna Open. Zverev, the World No.3, also looms large. The defending champion, he lifted the Paris trophy last year after beating Ugo Humbert in the final. Their matches are always close, yet Alcaraz holds the bigger wins at the Grand Slam level. Against Musetti, he leads 6-1. Against Shelton, 3-0. If he clears the obstacles, the Spaniard could cap off his season with a record: Nine titles and four Masters in one year!

With this draw and his history against every possible opponent, Carlos Alcaraz looks set for a deep run in Paris. It’s up to the Spaniard to display his brilliance once again. Yet, Paris hasn’t always been kind to him. He spoke about one recurring issue, and maybe this time, they’ve found the fix.

Paris Masters listens to Carlos Alcaraz’s woes from last year!

The 22-year-old has often called out the court speed at the Paris Masters, and it might explain some of his struggles there. After beating Nicolas Jarry at the 2024 event, he said, “It’s really fast for me. Honestly, it depends on the player. Some like this speed, but I think it should be a little bit slower, just for the tournament and the people — there’s gonna be more rallies, more tennis to watch.” Fair enough, right?

Carlos Alcaraz has had a tough time at this particular Masters 1000, never getting past the quarter-finals. That’s surprising for a player who won six Grand Slams. Just last year, he lost a tough three-set battle to Ugo Humbert in the third round. For a star like Alcaraz, that’s not the kind of Paris memories he wants.

The good news? Rumor has it the tournament listened. German R. Abril, a tennis journalist on the scene, noticed the courts feel slower this year. He tweeted, “The feeling is that the speed has decreased compared to last year,” adding there’s talk of a “middle ground.” That’s got to sound like music to Alcaraz’s ears as he chases his first title at Paris.

This year’s Rolex Paris Masters is the debut at La Défense Arena, Europe’s largest indoor venue. Alcaraz has been rock-solid all season. Could he make history with a ninth title this year? That would put him alongside legends like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Could Carlos Alcaraz pull it off? Drop your thoughts below!