M 1000 PARIS. France. By Leo Canaparo
Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed a measure of revenge against Ben Shelton on Sunday, defeating the American 7-6(5), 7-5 to capture the Rolex Paris Masters title for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old Spaniard claimed the ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown of his career, adding another major achievement to an already remarkable tennis journey.
It was a particularly meaningful victory for Alcaraz, who had been looking to bounce back after Shelton defeated him in a dramatic five-set quarterfinal at the US Open in September. That encounter was one of the most memorable matches of their rivalry, with the American prevailing 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) after an intense battle that went down to the final-set tiebreak.
The two players have developed an increasingly interesting rivalry over the past few seasons. Their first meeting came at the 2023 Canadian Open in Toronto, where Alcaraz prevailed 6-3, 7-6(3). The Spaniard also defeated Shelton 6-4, 6-4 at the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin and later won their fourth-round encounter at Roland Garros in 2025, coming through 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Shelton finally got his breakthrough at Flushing Meadows in 2026, but Alcaraz responded in Paris to take a 4-1 lead in their head-to-head record.
“I have come here every year without finding my best tennis, but we never gave up,” Alcaraz said after receiving the trophy from former Paris Masters champion Boris Becker.
The Spaniard also spoke openly about the mental challenges he faced throughout the tournament. “This week, I had to overcome many difficulties and my own psychological struggles,” he explained, revealing how important it was to maintain a positive attitude, remain mentally strong and prevent negative thoughts from affecting his performance.
For Alcaraz, this Paris triumph represents much more than another trophy. It is a sign of his return to his best tennis and an important confidence boost heading into the ATP Finals, the prestigious season-ending tournament. In 2025, the Spaniard reached the final but was unable to lift the trophy, finishing runner-up to Jannik Sinner.
“We have suffered painful defeats here, but we always told ourselves that we would come back and try again,” Alcaraz added with a smile.
This time, Paris finally belonged to him.