World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz earned his first Paris Masters title with a straight-sets 7-6(7-5), 7-5 victory over Ben Shelton. The win served as payback for Alcaraz, who had lost a grueling four-hour and 28-minute quarter-final against the American at the US Open in September.
Tight Battles Across Two Sets
The opening set proved to be a tense, 65-minute affair without a single break of serve. Shelton was unable to convert any of his six break-point opportunities, leading to a tie-break that Alcaraz ultimately edged 7-5 before celebrating intensely with the Paris crowd.
In the second set, Shelton appeared to gain the upper hand when he broke Alcaraz to love at 3-2, hitting two aces along the way. However, Alcaraz responded promptly by breaking back to level the score at 4-4. The Spaniard then gathered momentum, creating a decisive break off a drop shot from Shelton to take the set 7-5 and secure the trophy.
Tributes and Praise After the Final
Following the match, Alcaraz praised his opponent’s resilience and character. “It’s been a great week for [Ben Shelton] and your team – you’re amazing on and off the court. After a defeat, you always bounce back even stronger – I’m going to be afraid of you!” Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz also spoke about the significance of the victory for his team, stating, “This title is something that we’ve been chasing for a really long time.” He added, “I’ve had a lot of painful losses here, but we never give up. We felt really comfortable coming here this year.”
Shelton congratulated Alcaraz on his accomplishment, highlighting the Spaniard’s physical endurance. “I want to give a big congratulations to Carlos,” Shelton stated. “I don’t think everybody realises how difficult it is to win back-to-back – from Vienna to Paris. Ten matches in 14 days. It speaks to your versatility as a champion and the work you put in.” Shelton added, “Every time I’m on the court with you I feel like you bring out the best in me – [I’m] super happy to have you back and healthy.”
The victory marks Alcaraz’s ninth straight match win and his fifth tournament title from six finals in 2026. Attention now turns to the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled to take place from November 15 to 22.
