11/08/2026 11:13:00
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11/08 11:11 CST Alcaraz beats Shelton in Paris Masters final for his fifth
title this year
Alcaraz beats Shelton in Paris Masters final for his fifth title this year
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Carlos Alcaraz continued his late-season surge by beating Ben
Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the Paris Masters final on Sunday for his second
straight title and fifth of the year.
It was Alcaraz's 29th title of his career and followed his victory in Vienna
last Sunday. Last month he won the Japan Open, having only returned from a
right wrist injury in late August.
The second-seeded Spaniard threw his arms out wide in celebration after
clinching victory on his second match point with a two-handed backhand winner
down the line at the indoor Plenitude Arena. The seven-time Grand Slam champion
cracked a broad smile and briefly appeared to cry after earning a ninth Masters
title and first in Paris.
"It is something I have been chasing for a long time. Some of the toughest
defeats I ever had in my career I have had here," Alcaraz said. "Finally I got
my level here. I found the right path and the right way to do things."
He won for the fourth time in five meetings with Shelton, who had beaten
Alcaraz two months ago in a late-night quarterfinal marathon at the U.S. Open
ending at 3:33 a.m. Shelton went on to reach the final, where he lost to
Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz saved six break points in the first set and overcame a break of serve
in the second set by breaking the third-seeded Shelton straight back.
The 23-year-old Alcaraz did not drop a set in Vienna. But it was harder work in
Paris and he almost went out on Friday, saving two match points against Taylor
Fritz in their quarterfinal.
The 24-year-old Shelton was seeking his eighth title overall and third Masters,
having twice won the Montreal title.
The American recently added Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching staff,
following on from Alcaraz's split with long-time coach Ferrero last year.
There is clearly no animosity between the players over that. Both congratulated
each other's shots in Sunday's final, and Alcaraz made a point of walking
around the net to hug Shelton and pat him on the chest after winning.
Net battle
With both players blessed with speed and agility, Alcaraz and Shelton drew each
other to the net throughout.
They regularly traded low, angled volleys at the net.
Pushing the other to the extremities of the court, there were some improbable
retrieves, including one by Shelton in the ninth game when the American almost
did the splits.
Shelton had an early advantage when he had Alcaraz 0-40 down in the fourth
game. The Spaniard went on to save four break points before finally holding.
Alcaraz clinched the tiebreaker when Shelton hit a forehand wide.
Shelton had another chance in the second set, when he broke Alcaraz's serve for
the first time and held for a 4-2 lead. But Alcaraz broke back straight when
Shelton hit a forehand long from the back of the court to make it 4-4.
After that he definitively changed the momentum.
"I am really proud of myself and the team, the way they have pushed me
forward," Alcaraz said. "This one means a lot to me."
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