Alcaraz claims Paris Masters title with fifth win of the year

Carlos Alcaraz secured his fifth title of the season on Sunday by defeating Ben Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the Paris Masters final. The victory at the indoor Plenitude Arena marks the second consecutive tournament win for the 23-year-old Spaniard, following his triumph in Vienna the previous week.

Alcaraz, who is ranked second in the world, finished the match with a two-handed backhand winner down the line on his second match point. This championship is his 29th of his career and his ninth Masters title. It is also his first win in Paris, a venue where he has previously suffered some of his most difficult defeats.

"It is something I have been chasing for a long time," Alcaraz said after the match. "Finally I got my level here. I found the right path and the right way to do things."

The result extends Alcaraz's dominance in their head-to-head record, which now stands at four wins in five meetings. Their last encounter was a late-night quarterfinal marathon at the U.S. Open two months ago, which Shelton won. That match ended at 3:33 a.m. before Shelton lost in the final to Alexander Zverev.

Shelton, the third seed, brought 12 aces to the final compared to six for Alcaraz. Alcaraz saved six break points in the first set and overcame an early break in the second set. In the fourth game of the first set, the American had a 4-0 advantage on serve, but Alcaraz saved four break points to hold.

Momentum shifted decisively in the second set after Alcaraz broke Shelton's serve to tie the score at 4-4. The American had previously broken for a 4-2 lead, but a forehand long from the back of the court gave Alcaraz the opportunity to break back. Alcaraz then held serve to close out the match after Shelton hit a forehand wide in the tiebreaker.

Alcaraz's run to the final was not without peril. He saved two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals on Friday. In contrast, he did not drop a set during his victory in Vienna. He now enters the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, which begin next Sunday, feeling confident in his mental preparation.

"I am really proud of myself and the team, the way they have pushed me forward," Alcaraz added. The two players showed mutual respect on court, with Alcaraz walking around the net to hug Shelton after the final point. Shelton is seeking his eighth overall title, having previously won the Montreal Masters twice.