Alcaraz gets his revenge in Paris
Six break points, zero conversions. That was Ben Shelton’s afternoon in the opening set, and it cost him the final. Carlos Alcaraz won the Rolex Paris Masters this afternoon, 7-6(5), 7-5, and the first thing he did after the tie-break was roar at the crowd.
The first set ran 65 minutes without a break of serve. Shelton had every chance to take it and never found the opening. Alcaraz stayed level, then took the breaker.
The second set looked headed the same way until Shelton broke to love at 3-2, firing two aces in the game. Alcaraz answered at the first opportunity to level at 4-4. He then finished the job with a winner off a Shelton drop shot to take the decisive break, and he served it out from there.
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A title that took years to arrive
This is Alcaraz’s first Paris crown and his ninth Masters 1000 trophy. It is also his fifth title of 2026 from six finals, and his ninth match win in a row. The Spaniard, ranked world No. 3, admitted the tournament had hurt him before. “I’ve had a lot of painful losses here, but we never give up,” he said on court.
The result settles a score from September. Shelton beat Alcaraz in a 4hr 28min US Open quarter-final, and the American arrived in Paris with that memory fresh. Shelton was gracious in defeat. He pointed to how hard it is to string together ten matches in 14 days, and said Alcaraz brings out his best every time they meet.
Turin is next
The ATP Finals start in Turin on November 15, with Spanish youngster Rafael Jodar taking the eighth and final spot in the field. Alcaraz goes there in form and with Paris finally ticked off.
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