Alcaraz Conquers Paris: Ninth ATP 1000 Title and Revenge Over Shelton After US Open Drama

Carlos Alcaraz, ranked third in the world, added another major trophy to his collection by winning the prestigious ATP 1000 tournament in Paris. In the Paris Masters final, the Spaniard defeated American Ben Shelton in two hard-fought sets, concluding a match that lasted 1 hour and 59 minutes. We break down the details of this clash and its significance for Alcaraz's further career in an article according to Sport RBC.UA.

A Final Decided by a Tiebreak and a Second-Set Turnaround

The match proved extremely challenging for both tennis players. The fate of the first set was decided in a tiebreak, where Shelton made a series of errors, dropping the set. In the second set, the American even led with a break, but Alcaraz managed to turn the tide of the match and secure victory. According to the Spaniard himself, this was 'one of the toughest challenges possible in modern tennis,' while Shelton, in his estimation, 'gets stronger with every tournament.'

Revenge for a Painful US Open Defeat

This victory allowed Alcaraz to get even with his opponent for a painful defeat in the US Open quarterfinals. Recall that in New York on September 9, 2026, Shelton clinched a sensational victory with a score of 6:7 (5:7), 6:1, 6:3, 1:6, 7:6 (10:7) in a match that lasted four and a half hours and ended around 3:30 AM local time. That clash was the Spaniard's first after a nearly six-month break due to a wrist injury, and now in Paris, he answered with a convincing revenge.

Ninth ATP 1000 Title and a Historic Milestone for Spain

The captured trophy became Alcaraz's ninth ATP 1000 title and the 28th of his career. Furthermore, he entered history as the first Spanish tennis player since 2012 to conquer the courts in Paris — the last time among his compatriots was achieved by David Ferrer. The successful performance in France marked the third title for the seven-time Grand Slam winner following his autumn setback at the US Open.

What's Next: ATP Finals and Davis Cup

Ahead for Alcaraz are two key events of the season — the ATP Finals and the final stage of the Davis Cup. The Paris victory served as an important psychological and ranking boost ahead of these starts, confirming that after a traumatic period and the sensational defeat in New York, the Spaniard has returned to optimal form.