A Thrilling Final That Delivered on Every Promise
Carlos Alcaraz captured his maiden Rolex Paris Masters title on Sunday, defeating Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 in a contest packed with drama and momentum swings. The victory marked Alcaraz's fifth tournament win of 2026 and his ninth consecutive match victory, as he followed up his triumph at the ATP 500 event in Vienna just one week earlier with an extraordinary back-to-back haul.
The first set was a grinding affair lasting 65 minutes, with Shelton creating six break-point chances but failing to convert a single one. Alcaraz eventually claimed the tiebreak and roared toward the Paris crowd in celebration. The second set followed a similar tense pattern until Shelton broke to lead 4-3, firing two aces in a dominant service game. Alcaraz responded immediately, breaking back to level at 4-4, before producing a stunning winner off a Shelton drop shot to earn the decisive break and close out the championship.
Revenge, Records, and a Mutual Admiration
The result settled a score from September, when Shelton eliminated Alcaraz from the US Open in a gruelling quarter-final lasting four hours and 28 minutes. This time, the outcome was reversed, and Alcaraz now holds nine Masters 1000 titles overall, adding to a collection that also includes seven Grand Slam trophies.
Both players were generous in their post-match words. Shelton noted that winning back-to-back titles, Vienna then Paris, across just 14 days highlights Alcaraz's extraordinary range and fitness. Alcaraz, in turn, praised Shelton's attitude and joked he is "afraid" of the American going forward. Shelton's runner-up run earned him 650 ranking points and over 530,000 euros, keeping him at his career-high ranking. TennisDraw bracket users had heavily backed Alcaraz to lift the trophy in Paris this week, and they were fully rewarded for their confidence.
