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Alcaraz beats error-prone Shelton to win Paris Masters

Reuters  •  November 9th, 2026 8:02 am
Alcaraz beats error-prone Shelton to win Paris Masters

Carlos Alcaraz has captured his ninth ATP Masters 1000 title and first at the Paris Masters | Photo: EPA

Carlos Alcaraz has avenged his loss to Ben Shelton in the US ‌Open last eight as he edged the American 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 to ‌win the Paris Masters and clinch his ninth ‌ATP 1000 title.
World No. 3 Alcaraz controlled the contest from the baseline to become the first Spaniard to win the tournament since David Ferrer in 2012, while Shelton was ‌left frustrated ‌by an ⁠erratic forehand.
Alcaraz saved six break points ​and failed to convert two, as the first set remained deadlocked until the tiebreak, where Shelton overshot the baseline three times on his forehand, allowing the Spaniard to take the ⁠set.
World No. 4 Shelton ‌capitalised ​on two double faults and wayward top-spins from Alcaraz to ​go 3-2 ‌up in the second, and extended the lead with ​two aces in the following game.
But Alcaraz fought back with a break of his own to make ​it ​4-4, landing two ​cross-court winners as Shelton netted a ‌forehand and went long with another.
With Alcaraz leading 6-5, Shelton stumbled again while serving to stay in the match, overshooting two forehands before the seven-times Grand Slam winner ​clinched victory with a perfectly timed backhand down ​the line.
Ben Shelton

Runner-up Ben Shelton was aiming to win his third Masters 1000 title in Paris | Photo: EPA

"It is something I have been chasing for a long time," Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.
"Some of the toughest defeats I ever had in my career I have had here. Finally I got my level here. I found the right path and the right way to do things. I am really proud of myself and the team.
"The way they have pushed me forward. This one means a lot to me."
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