Alcaraz Beats Shelton To Claim Paris Masters Crown
Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive late-season run by defeating Ben Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the Paris Masters final on Sunday. The victory secured his fifth title of 2026, his second consecutive tournament triumph and the 29th trophy of his career.
Alcaraz Holds Nerve In Tight Final
The second-seeded Spaniard had to work hard against Shelton in a closely contested final at the indoor Plenitude Arena. He saved six break points in the opening set before taking it in a tiebreak.
Alcaraz faced another challenge in the second set after losing his serve but responded immediately with a break of his own. He eventually sealed the title on his second match point with a two-handed backhand winner down the line.
The 23-year-old celebrated with his arms outstretched before sharing a warm embrace with Shelton across the net.
Fifth Title Completes Strong Comeback
The Paris triumph follows Alcaraz’s victory at the Vienna Open last Sunday. He also won the Japan Open last month after returning from a right wrist injury in late August.
His route to the Paris title was not without difficulty. Alcaraz came close to an early exit in the quarterfinals against Taylor Fritz, where he saved two match points before advancing.
The Spaniard has now won four of his five meetings with Shelton. The American had defeated him in a marathon US Open quarterfinal two months ago, with the match ending at 3:33 am.
Shelton was aiming for his eighth career title and third Masters crown. He recently added former Alcaraz coach Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching team, following the Spaniard’s split with Ferrero last year.
Despite the connection, there was no sign of tension between the players, who congratulated each other during the final before sharing a friendly exchange at the net.
