When it comes to the Race to Turin standings, two Americans are saying hold your horses.
Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul kept their hopes alive on Thursday, reaching the quarterfinals with inspiring late-season victories.
Fritz fired past Arthur Fils 6-3, 6-4 behind 14 aces and 11 forehand winners to set up a quarterfinal with Carlos Alcaraz on Friday.
Fritz can vault past Rafael Jodar for the last spot in the Race to Turin standings with a win.
“Excited for it. Excited for the opportunity,” Fritz said of the looming challenge. Alcaraz, who advanced via walkover when Matteo Berrettini pulled out with an injury, owns a 6-1 lifetime record against the American, with his only blemish coming at Laver Cup in 2024.
“This is why I’ve gotten to this point in the tournament,” Fritz said. “I knew that I was probably going to have to go through him if I wanted to make Turin. So I’m ready. I’m ready to play.”
Fritz denied home hope Fils what would have been his sixth Masters quarterfinal of 2026 with a throttling effort. He said he felt the fast conditions at the Penitude Arena rewarded his aggression.
“I just played exactly the way that I imagine myself playing when I’m playing well,” a satisfied Fritz said. “I was returning really well, returning aggressively, serving really well, so that kind of takes care of itself when I’m serving well.
“Just playing aggressively. It was fast conditions, and it really enabled me to get rewarded when I stepped in to go for the shots.”
Fritz, who defeated Fils via retirement in Basel last week, takes a 2-1 lead in his head-to-head against the Frenchman and increases his tour-leading total of indoor wins to 13 on the season.
The Southern California native also notched his 100th career Masters 1000 win, becoming the seventh American to achieve the feat.
Tommy Paul joins Fritz and Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals and keeps his hopes for Turin alive as well. Paul took out Quentin Halys 7-6(3), 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal with fourth-seeded Shelton, who defeated Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) to make it a perfect 3-0 for Americans against the French on Thursday.
Paul can pass Jodar in the Race to Turin standings if he reaches the final in Paris.
Shelton and Fils have already secured qualification.
Check below for the full standings update:
PIF ATP Live Race to Turin – Updated Standings
| Rank | Player | Points | Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Zverev (GER) QUALIFIED | 9,350 | Paris – Lost to Musetti in R2 |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)QUALIFIED | 5,200 | Paris – Lost to Fritz in R3 |
| 3 | Ben Shelton (USA)QUALIFIED | 4,620 | Paris – Lost to Paul in R3 |
| 4 | Daniil MedvedevQUALIFIED | 3,820 | Paris – Lost to Buse in R2 |
| 5 | Flavio Cobolli (ITA)QUALIFIED | 3,680 | Withdrew due to left leg injury |
| 6 | Arthur Fils (FRA)QUALIFIED | 3,625 | Paris – Lost to Fritz in R3 |
| 7 | Frances Tiafoe (USA) | 3,390 | Paris – Lost to Halys in R2 |
| 8 | Rafael Jodar (ESP) | 3,234 | Paris – Lost to Ruud in R2 |
| 9 | Alex de Minaur (AUS) | 3,170 | Paris – Lost to Etcheverry in R2 |
| 10 | Taylor Fritz (USA) | 3,050 | Paris – +200 for win vs. Alcaraz |
| 11 | Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 2,940 | Paris – Lost to Hijikata in R2 |
| 12 | Tommy Paul (USA) | 2,925 | Paris – +200 for win vs. Shelton |
BOLD: Qualified for 2026 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin (15–22 November).
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