After going through complicated months due to injuries and dealing with some painful losses, Carlos Alcaraz found an opportunity to regain his best form in the final stretch of the season. The Spaniard strung together great performances on the indoor European circuit and crowned his good moment with a highly valuable achievement: he won the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris for the first time in his career after defeating Ben Shelton in the final 7-6(5) and 7-5.
The match against the American presented a demanding challenge from the start. Shelton came out determined to impose his power and sought to unsettle the Spaniard with his shots, although none managed to establish a difference during the first games. The parity remained until 5-5, with both players defending their respective serves and generating some break opportunities.
The first set was decided in the tie-break, where Alcaraz managed to prevail 7-5 after a hard-fought tiebreak. The Murcian had to withstand the pressure from his opponent, who managed to regain ground when it seemed the Spaniard could pull away, but he ultimately took the lead on the scoreboard.
The second set developed differently. Shelton found the break in the fifth game and went on to lead 4-2, a lead that brought him closer to forcing a third set. However, Alcaraz reacted at the right moment, broke back, and got back into the match.
As the American was preparing to serve and take the match back to a tiebreak, the Spaniard found an opportunity to strike again. With a cross-court backhand, he achieved the decisive break and closed the match 7-5 to claim the title after just over two hours of play.
With this new victory, the current number three in the world ranking reached nine titles of this category, a figure that places him in the eighth position on the all-time winners list. Additionally, he became the second Spanish tennis player to lift the trophy on French soil, after David Ferrer, who was champion in 2012 after defeating Polish player Jerzy Janowicz.
The victory also had a special significance due to the previous encounter between the two. In September, Shelton had eliminated Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the US Open, in a match that was decided in the fifth set. On that occasion, the Spaniard was playing his first tournament after four months away from the courts due to an injury. This time, however, he managed to prevail in a high-level final and take his revenge.
"This is a very special tournament. It is probably a tournament where I have had some of the most painful losses of my career. I couldn't find my best tennis, not feeling comfortable on this surface, against this type of players,... That makes this week even more special", Alcaraz acknowledged after lifting the trophy.
His triumph in Paris came after winning the ATP in Vienna, completing an indoor tour with a perfect record of nine wins and no losses. An evolution that the player himself highlighted when valuing the work done with his team. "We have found a way to compete well indoors, on these fast courts. I leave very happy and proud of the work I have been doing and of the team I have. They have always given 100% to encourage me and keep me going. It’s a unique feeling and this tournament will be very special for me and my team", he expressed.
Now, the Spaniard will have two important objectives to complete the calendar. The first will be the ATP Finals in Turin, which will begin on Sunday, November 15 and will bring together the best players of the season, including Shelton himself, who will make his second consecutive appearance in the tournament. Subsequently, he will seek to lead Spain in the Davis Cup Finals.
