In a rematch of their memorable U.S. Open quarterfinal match, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-5 on Sunday to win his ninth ATP Masters 1000 title and first at the Rolex Paris Masters.
Shelton bested Alcaraz in September in a memorable five-set quarterfinal marathon at the US Open.
The U.S. Open was Alcaraz’s first tournament in four months because of a wrist injury. Since then, he has won in Tokyo, Vienna and now Paris. He is 4-1 vs. Shelton in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“It is something I have been chasing for a long time,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Some of the toughest defeats I ever had in my career I have had here. Finally, I got my level here. I found the right path and the right way to do things. I am really proud of myself and the team. The way they have pushed me forward. This one means a lot to me.”
Alcaraz, 23, rallied from 0-40 and down 2-1 to hold serve in the first set. Shelton then saved two break points to stay on serve, but Alcaraz overpowered Shelton in the tiebreak.
Shelton had Alcaraz a break down in the second set, but the Spaniard hit several forehand winners to come back. He sealed the win in the 1-hour, 57-minute match on his second match point.
“Today was one of the toughest challenges we have in tennis, facing Ben Shelton,” Alcaraz said. “He is a great player, person, champion and he is doing better and better every tournament. I am just really happy I found a way. Putting his serves into play and trying to be myself on court. I am really happy I finally got it and this one is going to be really special.”
Alcaraz, who now has wins in seven of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments, joined Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only players in series history (since 1990) to win Masters 1000 events in five straight years.
Bybit Stockholm Open
On Day 2 of competition, Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina beat Swedish wild card Elias Ymer 6-1, 7-6 (4) in the Round of 32, while fellow countryman Thiago Agustin Tirante defeated Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6 (3), 6-3.
In second-round qualifying matches, Toby Samuel of Great Britain defeated Adrian Mannarino of France 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 and Borna Gojo of Croatia topped Nikoloz Basilashvili (2) of Georgia 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Aleksandr Shevchenko of Kazakhstan bested Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain 6-2, 6-4, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego defeated Spaniard Inaki Montes-De La Torre 7-5, 6-3.
The qualifying winners moved into the Round of 32.
–Field Level Media
