Alcaraz arrives in Paris as new era gets underway at La Défense Arena

Paris

Alcaraz arrives in Paris as new era gets underway at La Défense Arena

Paris is one of three ATP Masters 1000 titles missing from Spaniard's résumé

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

2018 champion Karen Khachanov and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz practise in Paris on Friday. By Jerome Coombe

A new chapter of the Rolex Paris Masters has begun in its striking new home, and with it comes the arrival of the No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz touched down at La Défense Arena on Friday morning, gearing up for his first tour-level appearance since triumphing in Tokyo last month. Beanie on, buzz cut hidden from the brisk Paris air, the 22-year-old Spaniard surveyed the vast new venue before taking to the practice court alongside 2018 champion Karen Khachanov.

During his Tokyo title run, Alcaraz sustained a left-ankle injury and subsequently missed the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. Earlier this week, he was back in his home town of El Palmar, Spain, training with his team in preparation for a return to Tour. Now, with a 5-4 record in Paris, including his best showing in 2022 when he reached the quarter-finals, the World No. 1 arrives with unfinished business.

Could the move to Europe’s largest indoor sports venue ignite his first French crown? The centre court at La Défense Arena can accommodate 17,500 spectators, which makes it the second-biggest tennis court for year-round events, behind only Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open.

The Rolex Paris Masters remains just one of three ATP Masters 1000 titles missing from Alcaraz’s glittering resume. Over the coming week, he will look to cross it off and tighten his grip on a potential second ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF finish.

Already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, Alcaraz holds a lead of more than 2,000 points over rival Jannik Sinner atop the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Sinner is competing this week in Vienna, where he is into Friday’s quarter-finals.

Alcaraz boasts a Tour-leading 67 wins and eight titles in 2025, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. In Paris, he is returning to indoor action for the first time since February, when he won his first trophy in these conditions at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam.

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