Carlos Alcaraz beats error-prone Ben Shelton to win Paris Masters

Spaniard claims ninth 1000-level title of his career

Carlos Alcaraz avenged his loss to ⁠Ben Shelton in the US Open last eight as he edged the American 7-6 (5), 7-5 to win the Paris Masters ⁠on Sunday, clinching ⁠his ninth ​ATP 1000 title.

The world No 3 controlled the contest from the baseline to become the first Spaniard to win the ⁠tournament since David Ferrer in 2012, while Shelton was left frustrated by an erratic forehand.

“Today, it was one of the toughest challenges we ⁠have in tennis right now, facing Ben Shelton,” said Alcaraz, whose US Open title ​defence was derailed by the eventual finalist ‌Shelton in a four-and-a-half-hour ‌thriller in September. “He is doing better and better with every tournament so it’s going ‌to be even tougher facing him. So I’m just really happy that I found the way.“

The first set remained deadlocked until the tie-break, where Shelton overshot the baseline three times on his forehand, allowing the Spaniard to take the set. The world No 4 capitalised on two double faults and wayward ‌topspins from Alcaraz to go 3-2 up in the second, and extended the lead with two aces in the following game.

But Alcaraz ​fought back with a break of his own to make it 4-4, landing two cross-court winners as Shelton netted a forehand and went long with another. With Alcaraz leading 6-5, Shelton stumbled again while serving to stay in the match, overshooting two forehands before the ⁠seven-times grand slam winner clinched victory with a perfectly timed backhand ​down the line.

“It’s something ​I’ve been chasing for a ​long time,” Alcaraz said after finally winning the Paris Masters on ​his sixth attempt.

The Australian ‌Open champion has ​now won three ​titles since the heartbreak at Flushing Meadows as he looks to end the year on a bright note at the ATP Finals starting next Sunday, followed by the Davis Cup finals later this month.