Carlos Alcaraz continued his strong comeback by defeating Ben Shelton 7-6(5) 7-5 to claim the Paris Masters title for the first time in his career.
A Thrilling Final and Previous Rivalry
World No 3 Alcaraz missed nearly five months of the 2026 season due to a wrist injury, and his initial return ended when Shelton defeated him in a five-set epic during the US Open quarter-finals. Since that defeat, Alcaraz has secured ATP 500 titles in Tokyo and Vienna. Although he was not playing at his most fluid level in Paris—having saved two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals—he maintained his late-season momentum in this first meeting with Shelton since New York.
Shelton started strongly on serve, putting Alcaraz under early pressure by taking a 0-40 lead while ahead 2-1. Alcaraz saved four break points using deft volleys and baseline aggression to hold in a game lasting nearly eight minutes. Both competitors struggled to convert their opportunities as Shelton saved two break points to maintain a 4-3 lead, before missing two more break chances of his own as Alcaraz levelled at 4-4 with a powerful unreturned first serve.
The opening set progressed to a tiebreak featuring frequent momentum shifts, with eight of the 12 points going against serve. Shelton recovered from a 1-3 deficit using an explosive baseline-tracking smash, but failed to capitalize. Alcaraz earned two set points with a fierce backhand volley; the first was missed when a net cord dropped the ball back onto his side, but he secured the first set 7-6(5) in just over an hour after Shelton sent a forehand wide.
Second Set Battle and Championship Victory
Shelton, who had won his previous three Paris matches in three sets, faced early trouble at 0-30 down in his opening service game of the second set. Four powerful first serves rescued him, and he eventually secured the match’s first break for a 3-2 lead by hitting a fierce angled return that forced Alcaraz long. Shelton followed up with a superb overhead smash and a love hold, prompting Alcaraz to display brief frustration by miming throwing his racquet.
Alcaraz capitalized on a drop in Shelton’s concentration to break back to 15, evening the score at 4-4. A standout rally saw Shelton send a volley back to Alcaraz, who exploited the open court to hit a winner and subsequently hold to 15. A more relaxed Alcaraz smiled and danced to ABBA’s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ during the next changeover as both players traded holds.
With Shelton serving to stay in the match, Alcaraz chased down a lob from the baseline and struck a forehand around the outside of the post to reach 15-30. Shelton hit long to give the Spaniard two championship points. Although Alcaraz sprayed the first wide, he clinched the second with a court-covering forehand winner. He celebrated his ninth Masters 1000 title and first in Paris by jumping for joy and running to his team and parents.
Both players have qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals starting on November 15 in Turin, offering Shelton a potential opportunity for immediate revenge.
