Carlos Alcaraz edged Ben Shelton in two tight sets to win the Paris Masters and settle his US Open score with the big-serving American.
Carlos Alcaraz is the Paris Masters champion. The Spaniard beat Ben Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-5 on Sunday for his ninth ATP 1000 title, and he got a little payback along the way.
Shelton had knocked Alcaraz out in the quarterfinals of the US Open. This time the world No 3 made sure the result went the other way. He took charge from the baseline and dictated most of the rallies, and Shelton never found a way to disrupt his rhythm.
Both sets were close. Alcaraz won the first in a tiebreak, 7-5, then broke late in the second to finish the job. Shelton had the weapons to stay in the match, but his forehand misfired at key moments and the errors cost him.
The win also puts Alcaraz in some historic company. He is the first Spaniard to lift the Paris trophy since David Ferrer in 2012, and with nine Masters 1000 titles already on his résumé, he keeps adding to a career that is still young.
