On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton in straight sets, 7‑6(5) 7‑5, to lift the Paris Masters 1000 trophy. The win marked Alcaraz’s ninth Masters 1000 title and the first at the prestigious Paris event.
Alcaraz, who returned from a four‑month wrist injury, had already shown his form by reaching the US Open quarter‑finals in September and winning three titles in the two months since. His victory over Shelton, the world No.4, confirmed his full fitness and his place among the sport’s elite.
After the match, Alcaraz said, “It’s something I’ve been chasing for a long time. I had some of the toughest losses of my career here. Today was one of the toughest challenges we have in tennis right now, facing Ben. Great champion, great player, great person. He is doing better and better every tournament. From here, it is going to be even tougher facing him. I’m just really happy that I finally got it. This tournament is really special.”
The Spaniard’s win brings him one title short of the career Golden Masters, needing only Canada and Shanghai to complete the set of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. He will now target the ATP Finals in Turin, where he hopes to close a challenging year that began with an Australian Open triumph.
Alcaraz’s resilience was on full display as he saved two match points against Taylor Fritz earlier in the year and once again held his nerve in high‑pressure moments against Shelton. The match showcased both players’ composure, with Alcaraz ultimately prevailing after a tense first‑set tie‑break and a decisive second set.
