Rolex Paris Masters Final: Carlos Alcaraz battles past Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 for maiden Bercy title
Spaniard avenges US Open defeat, survives 14 aces from Shelton, and claims his 9th career ATP Masters 1000 trophy.
Alcaraz conquers Bercy indoors
Carlos Alcaraz captured his maiden Rolex Paris Masters title on Sunday, 8 November, edging American Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 in front of a packed crowd at Accor Arena. The victory earned the 23-year-old Spaniard his ninth career ATP Masters 1000 crown and sealed the year-end world number one ranking before the ATP Finals in Turin.
Shelton served with blistering authority, sending down 14 aces and holding a 5-4 edge in the opening set tiebreak. But Alcaraz tightened his defense, winning three consecutive points from the baseline to pocket the set. In the second set, Alcaraz saved two break points at 4-4 and broke Shelton at 5-5 with a laser forehand pass before serving out the match to love.
Sweet revenge for New York
The triumph handed Alcaraz sweet redemption against Shelton, who had upset him in five sets in the US Open quarter-finals in September. Shelton finishes a brilliant week that included wins over Tommy Paul and Luca Van Assche, cementing his place inside the world top ten.
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