Carlos Alcaraz secured his first Paris Masters 1000 title on Sunday, defeating Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in a thrilling final. The victory avenges his five-set loss to Shelton in the US Open quarter-finals just 60 days ago and marks another milestone in his remarkable comeback from a wrist injury that sidelined him for four months.
A Season of Redemption
Since his return, Alcaraz has been in scintillating form, winning three titles and losing only once in 17 matches. The 23-year-old Spaniard has now claimed seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events, with only Canada and Shanghai missing from his collection. His performance in Paris underscores his readiness to challenge for major honors in 2027.
Reflecting on the win, 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."
A Battle of Wills
The final was a tense affair, with both players displaying exceptional poise under pressure. Alcaraz saved all six break points against him in the opening set, while Shelton fended off two break points of his own. The first set went to a tie-break, where Alcaraz rallied from 4-3 down to win four of the final five points.
In the second set, Shelton seized the initiative when Alcaraz faltered in his third service game, but the Spaniard immediately broke back. At 5-4, Alcaraz held serve after a breathtaking exchange, celebrating by pointing to his ear to encourage the crowd. He then broke Shelton in the final game, winning five of the last six games to seal the match.
Looking Ahead
Alcaraz now heads to the ATP Finals in Turin on a nine-match winning streak, having also triumphed in Vienna. His resilience was on full display in Paris, where he saved two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. It is the fourth time in his career he has won a title after being match points down.
With his first Paris Masters title in the bag, Alcaraz has firmly reestablished himself among the sport's elite. As he sets his sights on the ATP Finals, the tennis world watches to see if he can cap off a challenging year with another statement victory.
