Alcaraz finally wins the Paris Masters 1000 title
· BehindLines newsroom
Carlos Alcaraz won the Paris Masters 1000 final against Ben Shelton on Sunday, 8 November. The Spaniard prevailed in two sets, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5. The organiser's report gives a match time of 1 hour 57 minutes. The victory brings him his first trophy at this event and the ninth Masters 1000 title of his career.
A first set without a break
The opening set lasted 65 minutes. Shelton had several chances to break serve: four in the game played at 2-1, according to the tournament's account. Alcaraz saved them all. The American also protected his own serve when his opponent threatened it, saving two break points at 3-3.
With neither player managing a break, they had to play a tie-break. Alcaraz won it on his second set point. The opportunities Shelton created were therefore not enough to put him ahead on the scoreboard.
Shelton leads, then is caught
In the second set, the American did break Alcaraz's serve midway through the set. The Spaniard erased that deficit and drew level at 4-4. He then closed out the match 7-5, converting his second match point.
The victory answers their previous meeting at the US Open, where Shelton had eliminated Alcaraz in a five-set quarter-final. In Paris, the result was reversed without the match reaching a third set.
Next stop: Turin
The ATP Finals website now lists Alcaraz for Turin, where the season-ending tournament is scheduled for 15–22 November. Shelton is also among the eight qualifiers.
The Paris title thus completes one stage before the event in Turin. It rewards a run finished with a close final, but does not predict the outcome of the next tournament, for which both opponents have already qualified.