Carlos Alcaraz Beats Ben Shelton to Win First Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 on Sunday to win the Paris Masters for the first time, claiming the ninth 1000-level title of his career. The seven-time Grand Slam champion gained revenge for Shelton ending his US Open title defence earlier in the season, completing a straight-sets victory that lasted just under two hours.

The result extended Alcaraz’s winning run to nine matches after his recent 500-level title in Vienna. It also gave the world number three his fifth tour-level title of the year, with only the injured Jannik Sinner having won more, on six.

Alcaraz edges a tight final in Paris

The opening set was closely contested, with both players finding success against serve before the final moved into a tie-break. At 4-4 in the breaker, a Shelton error gave Alcaraz an opening before a leaping backhand smash brought up two set points for the Spaniard.

Alcaraz did not take the first opportunity, sending the ball into the top of the net cord as the shot rose and fell before landing back on his side of the court. But he converted the second set point when Shelton overcooked a forehand, handing Alcaraz the opener 7-6 (7/5).

Shelton made the first break of the match in the second set. At 2-2, the American had shown frustration after missing a groundstroke at 15-30 on the Alcaraz serve, but he recovered to take the game as a double fault and a missed forehand from Alcaraz proved costly.

Alcaraz responded three games later to level the set at 4-4. He had said after reaching the final that his reflexes would need to be “ten out of ten” against Shelton’s serve, and he found the response required to get back on terms.

A sequence of angled drop shots then ended with an Alcaraz winner down the line, prompting the Spaniard to put a finger to his ear as the crowd rose again. Shelton held serve once to remain in the contest, but he was unable to do so a second time when serving to force another tie-break. Alcaraz pounced on the chance and sealed the championship with a flicked backhand winner.

A ninth 1000-level trophy and Turin next

Alcaraz described the Paris victory as a significant moment after a demanding tournament. “For me it’s really special that finally I just got to play great tennis,” he said. “I went far in the tournament, lifting the trophy at the end.”

He also pointed to his mental progress, referencing his quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz, in which he saved two match points. “I would say this week I took a step forward mentally. I had a lot of really tough moments,” Alcaraz said. “I’m just really happy that I controlled my emotions, controlled my thoughts every moment, every single match.”

Alcaraz said the last two weeks, including his Vienna title and Paris run, had been his best tennis since returning from the wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Having previously won two French Opens, he is now unbeaten in title matches in Paris, excluding the Olympic Games, which do not carry ranking points.

For world number four Shelton, the loss was his first in a Masters final after victories in his previous two showpiece appearances at that level, both at the Canadian Open. The 24-year-old said the margins decided the latest meeting with Alcaraz. “It’s all about the little details,” Shelton said. “The difference in our match in the US Open was the little details, and same here.”

Both players now turn their attention to the ATP Finals in Turin, running from November 15-22. Alcaraz will seek a first title at the season-ending event, while Shelton is set to line up among the eight players in the field.