Carlos Alcaraz Wins Maiden Paris Masters Title After Beating Ben Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Paris Masters title on Sunday, defeating American Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in a thrilling final. The victory secured the Spaniard’s ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown and marked another milestone in his return from a wrist injury.

World number three Carlos Alcaraz gained revenge on Ben Shelton by beating the American in straight sets to lift the Paris Masters trophy for the first time.

The 23-year-old defeated the player who ended his US Open title defence earlier this season, securing his ninth Masters 1000 title. Unlike their five-set quarter-final encounter in New York two months earlier, Sunday’s final lasted just under two hours.

Speaking after the victory, Alcaraz said he was particularly pleased with the quality of his tennis and his ability to manage difficult moments throughout the tournament.

He said he had taken an important step forward mentally by controlling his emotions and thoughts during matches.

Alcaraz also referred to his quarter-final victory over Taylor Fritz, in which he saved two match points before progressing to the final.

Strong Comeback After Injury

Alcaraz arrived in Paris in excellent form after winning the ATP 500 title in Vienna. His victory over Shelton extended his winning streak to nine matches.

The Spaniard said the previous two weeks had probably been his best performances since returning from a wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon.

The Paris triumph also took his tally of tour-level titles for the year to five. Only Jannik Sinner, who has won six, has claimed more titles this season.

Alcaraz will now turn his attention to the ATP Finals, scheduled to take place in Turin from November 15 to 22. He will be aiming to win the season-ending tournament for the first time.

For Shelton, currently ranked fourth in the world, the defeat marked his first loss in a Masters final. The American had won his previous two finals at this level, both at the Canadian Open.

Decisive Moments in Final

The opening set featured several entertaining exchanges, with both players creating opportunities on their opponent’s serve.

The contest eventually went to a tie-break, where a Shelton error at 4-4 and a powerful backhand smash from Alcaraz helped the Spaniard earn two set points.

Alcaraz missed his first opportunity when his powerful shot struck the top of the net and dropped back onto his side. However, he converted the second after Shelton sent a forehand long, taking the opening set.

The second set remained closely contested. Shelton secured the first break of the match after Alcaraz made a double fault and missed a forehand.

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However, the Spaniard responded strongly, breaking back to level the set at 4-4.

An impressive exchange of angled drop shots, finished with a down-the-line winner by Alcaraz, brought the crowd to its feet and put Shelton under pressure.

The American managed to hold serve when facing the possibility of losing the match, but could not force a tie-break when given another opportunity. Alcaraz took advantage and sealed the championship with a backhand winner.

Shelton Praises Small Details

Shelton acknowledged that small moments had made the difference between the two players, drawing a comparison with their US Open meeting.

The 24-year-old said he had learned a great deal from competing in major finals and was pleased to be reaching the biggest stages of the sport.

He also looked ahead to the ATP Finals in Turin, where he will compete against the world’s top eight players.

Alcaraz has now won two French Open titles and the Paris Masters, maintaining an unbeaten record in title matches in the French capital, excluding the Olympic Games, which do not award ranking points.