Alcaraz Crushes Shelton Challenge to Lift First Paris Masters Crown
Spaniard defeats Ben Shelton in straight sets to claim ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown and extend winning streak to nine matches
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz avenged his US Open defeat to American Ben Shelton by securing his maiden Paris Masters title on Sunday, defeating the world number four 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in a thrilling final.
The victory marked another major milestone in the Spaniard’s remarkable career, as the seven-time Grand Slam champion lifted his ninth ATP Masters 1000 trophy and continued his impressive run of form ahead of the season-ending ATP Finals.
Alcaraz, 23, had suffered a painful defeat against Shelton in the US Open quarter-finals earlier this season. However, he turned the tables in Paris, producing a composed and commanding performance to settle the score in just under two hours.
The Spaniard said the triumph was particularly special because he had finally managed to produce his best tennis throughout the tournament and maintain control of his emotions during difficult moments.
“For me, it’s really special that finally I just got to play great tennis. I went far in the tournament, lifting the trophy at the end,” Alcaraz said.
He added that the tournament represented a significant step forward mentally, particularly after overcoming challenging situations, including saving two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.
“I would say this week I took a step forward mentally. I had a lot of really tough moments. I’m just really happy that I controlled my emotions, controlled my thoughts every moment, every single match,” he said.
Alcaraz arrived in Paris after winning the ATP 500 title in Vienna and has now extended his winning streak to nine consecutive matches. He described the past two weeks as the best period of tennis since returning from a wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon.
The world number three has now won five tour-level titles this season, placing him behind only injured Italian star Jannik Sinner, who has collected six.
His attention will now turn to the ATP Finals, scheduled to take place in Turin from November 15 to 22, where he will seek his first title at the prestigious season-ending tournament.
For Shelton, the defeat ended an impressive run in Masters finals. The American had won his previous two appearances in title matches at this level, both at the Canadian Open, but was unable to overcome Alcaraz in Paris.
Little details decide final
The opening set produced an entertaining contest, with both players displaying powerful serving, aggressive groundstrokes and impressive defensive skills.
Neither player managed to establish a decisive advantage as the set progressed to a tie-break. Shelton’s error at 4-4, followed by a spectacular backhand smash from Alcaraz, gave the Spaniard two set points.
Although Alcaraz missed his first opportunity after hitting the net cord, Shelton sent a forehand long on the next point, allowing the Spaniard to take the opening set.
The second set remained closely contested until Shelton broke Alcaraz’s serve to take a 3-2 lead, capitalising on a double fault and a missed forehand from the Spaniard.
However, Alcaraz responded with renewed aggression and immediately raised his level. His exceptional reflexes and ability to handle Shelton’s powerful serve helped him secure a crucial break and level the set at 4-4.
An outstanding exchange of angled drop shots, finished with a winning shot down the line by Alcaraz, further shifted the momentum in his favour.
Shelton managed to hold serve once more, but when he needed to win another service game to force a tie-break, Alcaraz seized the opportunity. A brilliant flicked backhand winner sealed the championship for the Spaniard.
Reflecting on the contest, Shelton said the outcome had once again been determined by minor details, just as in their previous meeting at the US Open.
“It’s all about the little details. The difference in our match in the US Open was the little details, and same here,” the 24-year-old said.
Despite the defeat, Shelton described reaching major finals as an important part of his development and expressed enthusiasm about competing against the world’s best players at the ATP Finals.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, maintained his remarkable record in title matches in Paris. Having previously won two French Open crowns, he remains unbeaten in championship finals in the French capital, excluding the Olympic Games, which do not carry ATP ranking points.
In the earlier doubles final, French wildcards Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert delighted the home crowd by defeating second seeds Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (4/7), 10-8 to claim the doubles title.
