World number three Carlos Alcaraz secured a measure of revenge on Sunday by defeating American Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to capture the Paris Masters crown for the very first time in his professional career. The 23-year-old Spaniard claimed the ninth 1000-level title of his career following a tightly contested two-hour showdown in the French capital.
Key Takeaways: Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to win the Paris Masters for the first time. The victory marks his ninth career Masters title and serves as redemption for his earlier US Open elimination.
The encounter served as a high-stakes rematch of their five-set quarterfinal epic at Flushing Meadows two months ago, where Shelton abruptly ended Alcaraz's title defense. Unlike that exhausting New York encounter, the Paris clash concluded in just under two hours, though it still tested the resilience of the young tennis star.
"Coming here every year, not finding my best tennis but we never gave up," Alcaraz remarked after receiving the trophy from former Paris Masters champion Boris Becker. The Spaniard arrived in Paris on the back of a 500-level title victory in Vienna, extending his current winning streak to nine consecutive matches.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will shift his focus to the upcoming ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled from November 15-22, where he will seek his maiden coronation at the prestigious season-ending event. While questions linger regarding his consistency against top-tier opponents, the European regime of tennis analysts notes that his ability to save match points en route to the title highlights his growing competitive maturity.
Source: www.aljazeera.com