Alcaraz Gains Revenge On Shelton, Captures Rolex Paris Masters Title

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, November 8, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Carlos Alcaraz came into his Rolex Paris Masters final against Ben Shelton with a 3-1 head-to-head advantage. However, the match that mattered most to him was their most recent encounter, in the US Open quarterfinals. The American No. 1 won that September match in a fifth-set tiebreaker, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7), striking his final ace at 3:33 a.m. on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It elevated Shelton into his first Grand Slam final and anointed him as a Top-5 player.

Fast forward two months, the World No. 3 Alcaraz found himself playing another big-stakes match against World No. 4 Shelton. This time, with the final ATP Masters 1000 title of the season on the line – and with Hall of Fame great Boris Becker, the first Paris Masters champion back in 1986, in attendance – Alcaraz met Shelton on Centre Court of Plenitude Arena Sunday afternoon to renew their rivalry.

“Tomorrow is going to be a big day,” the 23-year-old Alcaraz said after his semifinal win over Norway’s Casper Ruud Saturday evening. “I’m really happy and excited. I can’t wait and will try to prepare for the match the best that I can and give myself a chance. I really want to take revenge against Ben.”

With former World No. 1 Jannik Sinner out since Wimbledon with a right knee injury, perhaps Alcaraz-Shelton is the best rivalry available in the men’s game right now. That they were still alive on Sunday to play in the final is a testament to their talent and ability to live on the edge.

To wit, Alcaraz saved a pair of match points against World No. 12 Taylor Fritz of the United States in the quarterfinals on Friday. Meanwhile, Shelton was down 2-4 in a third-set tiebreaker against Arthur Rinderknech of France before winning five of the last six points to pull out a third-round victory. He was pushed to three sets in each of his next two matches, against fellow American Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals and against French favorite Luca Van Assche in Saturday’s semifinal round. 

“It’s tough out here,” Shelton, 24, said during one of his post-match interviews this week. “The players are so good and it’s not easy to close matches out. If I can be brave and keep winning my serve and stick with the guy, I feel there is a small window and I like my chances.”

In a reversal of fortune, this time Alcaraz beat Shelton, 7-6 (5), 7-5, in one hour and 57 minutes to capture his fifth ATP Tour title of the season and second in two weeks: Australian Open, Doha, Tokyo, Vienna and Paris. It’s the fourth time in his career Alcaraz has won five titles in a single season, and his five titles in 2026 are second-most behind Sinner’s six.

“It is something I have been chasing for a long time,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview before the trophy ceremony. “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.”

On serve through the first 12 games and 56 minutes of play in the opening set, there were plenty of long, exciting rallies for fans to enjoy. The level of play from both finalists was very high. Shelton saved both break points he had faced during the seventh game to hold for 4-3, while Alcaraz fought off six of six break points (4-for-4 in the fourth game and 2-for-2 in the eighth game). In a very evenly-contested final with little margin for error, it seemed fitting that the first set would be decided by a tiebreaker.

Alcaraz jumped ahead 3-1 in the tie-break, but Shelton leveled the score with an overhead forehand winner off a lob shot from the Spaniard coupled with an unforced error. Soon, at 4-all, Alcaraz went ahead after Shelton ripped a forehand long. Then, Alcaraz gained a 6-4 lead with a running backhand volley winner, and put away the set 7-5 at the completion of 65 minutes, after Shelton hit an inside-out forehand wide.

Next, on serve through four games of the second set, Shelton broke Alcaraz for the first time to take a 3-2 lead and immediately consolidated it for a 4-2 advantage. However, Alcaraz pressured Shelton in the eighth game and broke back to level the set at 4-all, after taking advantage of some untimely unforced errors. Then, he held serve to push ahead 5-4. 

With the pressure on Shelton, he held serve for 5-all. Then, the Spanish No. 1 reciprocated with his own hold for a 6-5 lead, putting himself a game away from winning the title. Soon, Alcaraz gained a match point at 15-40 but Shelton saved it with a big serve. However, Alcaraz put away the title victory on his second championship point with a beautiful eighth-shot backhand winner. It all added up to Alcaraz’s ninth straight victory and third title in his last four events.

Alcaraz finished the triumph with 33 winners against 27 unforced errors. He won 71 percent (40 of 56) of his first-serve points, saved six of seven break points he faced and converted two of five break points. Alcaraz outpointed Shelton 85-73. Shelton countered with 12 aces and 25 overall winners to 26 unforced errors.

“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.”

The Paris title victory was the ninth ATP Masters 1000 title for Alcaraz, his first since winning the Cincinnati Open in August 2025. He’s the third man in series history to win ATP Masters 1000 titles in five consecutive years, joining Novak Djokovic (2011-16, 2018-23) and Rafael Nadal (2005-14). He’s now won titles at seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events, and won 19 of 21 matches since returning to the ATP Tour in August after recovering from a wrist injury.

Now, it’s off to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin for both Alcaraz and Shelton, having qualified second and third behind Alexander Zverev.

French wild cards Halys and Herbert win doubles title

French wild cards Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert became the first Frenchmen in three years to win the Rolex Paris Masters doubles title on Sunday. It took four championship points during a match tie-break to win, but Halys and Herbert pulled off the triumph over No. 2 seeds Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 10-8, in one hour and 50 minutes on Court Central.

Halys, 30, and Herbert,35, who are just the fourth French champions in tournament history, improved to 19-7 as a team (12-6 this season). They first formed as a team a year ago at the Rolex Paris Masters and reached the semifinal round. The Paris title was their second as a team following a title win in Metz, France last year.

Against Harrison and Skupski, Halys and Herbert combined to hit 13 aces and won 86 percent (51 of 59) of their first-serve points. They converted one of six break points and outpointed Harrison and Skupski 86-78.

“It really is a special one,” Herbert said during an on-court interview with ATP Media before the trophy ceremony. “I have had a tough year and to be able to win here with Quentin is amazing. He has been the guy this year. He played amazing tennis and carried me in the summer. He helped me go back to training and believe in myself and it is amazing.”

Herbert, who was playing in his fourth Paris final, won the 2019 title with former partner Nicolas Mahut. Halys advanced to the third round of the singles event, saving four match points to defeat World No. 8 Frances Tiafoe of the United States for the biggest win of career in the second round.

“To finish the year with a title is amazing,” Halys said. “It is giving me so much confidence. … It is crazy good.”

Later, during the team’s news conference, Halys added: “It’s awesome. When we started playing together, we wanted to win a big title. Now we have it. It’s cool.”

Earlier this season, Halys and Herbert were semifinalists at Roland-Garros and reached the last four in Doha. This was their seventh tour-level event as a team in 2026.

Meanwhile, Harrison and Skupski (37-20) won a pair of Grand Slam titles this season, at the Australian Open and the US Open. They will go to the Nitto ATP Finals as the No. 2-seeded team behind No. 1 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain, who clinched the Year-End ATP Doubles No. 1 presented by PIF honors as a result of the Paris title win by Halys and Herbert.

Around the Rolex Paris Masters

Tournament director Cedric Pioline said during his final day news conference that Centre Court at Plenitude Arena gave everyone – players and fans – a wonderful experience. For the second-straight year, the tournament drew in excess of 200,000 fans.

“Of course, also the surface is faster, so the tennis is more aggressive on this court. And fans really like this venue, made it its own, and we’re delighted about this,” he said.

“We want the atmosphere to be vibrant. We want people to have fun. We want a wonderful, high-profile matchup for the final [Shelton versus Alcaraz]. …

“Also, the deep run of the French players, and especially the deep run of Luca van Assche, that was a wonderful adventure for this tournament. It’s always wonderful, because we know that the crowd is very much supporting French players because it is a home crowd.

“So, it’s wonderful. This tournament is booming. It is attractive. And it is a must-attend tournament during the autumn before the Masters ATP Finals.”

By the numbers

Since the ATP Masters 1000 series began in 1990, Novak Djokovic has won the most ATP Masters 1000 titles with 40, followed by Rafael Nadal with 36 and Roger Federer with 28. Carlos Alcaraz is tied for eighth place with eight.

“Quotable …”

“I want to give a big congratulations to Carlos, of course also your team. I don’t think that everybody realizes how difficult it is to go back-to-back in Vienna and Paris. 10 matches in 14 days – two weeks – going from a slow court to a fast court. I think it speaks to your versatility as a champion, the work that you and your team put in. Every time that we’re on the court together, I feel that you bring out the best in me. I feel I get better every time I’m on the court with you. Super happy to have you back and healthy.”

– Rolex Paris Masters runner-up Ben Shelton, during his trophy ceremony remarks, in praise of champion Carlos Alcaraz

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