Alcaraz takes revenge on Shelton to win first Paris Masters title

Just 60 days after his comeback tournament was ended in a late-night New York blockbuster against Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz took his revenge.

In doing so, the Spaniard offered the latest indication that his ascension back to the top of the men’s game is nearing completion.

Alcaraz exceeded expectations when, on his return from four months out with a wrist injury, he reached the US Open quarter-finals in September before going out in an astonishing five-set epic against rising American star Shelton.

In the two months since, Alcaraz has won three titles and lost once in 17 matches.

His Sunday win over world number four Shelton sealed the 23-year-old’s first title at the prestigious Paris Masters 1000.

It also confirmed a fully fit Alcaraz, who has now won seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events, will once again be ready to compete for the sport’s major prizes in 2027.

Following his 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 triumph, Alcaraz said: “It’s something I’ve been chasing for a long time. I had some of the toughest losses of my career here.

“Today was one of the toughest challenges we have in tennis right now, facing Ben. Great champion, great player, great person. He’s getting better every tournament. From here, it is going to be even tougher facing him.

“I’m just really happy that I finally got it. This tournament is really special.”

Alcaraz moves closer to career Golden Masters

Alcaraz will now seek to end a challenging year – which he began by winning the Australian Open to become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam – with a statement victory at the ATP Finals in Turin.

The seven-time major winner will enter the event on a nine-match win streak, having triumphed in Vienna before his Paris win.

Only two days ago, Alcaraz stood on the brink of a quarter-final loss to Taylor Fritz but saved two match points to pull off a comeback victory.

It is the fourth time in his career that he has won a title after being match points down at a tournament.

That indomitable spirit was on display again as Alcaraz saved all six break points against him in a tense opening set against Shelton, who was fearless after a stellar year in which he won four titles and reached his first major final.

Both players showed admirable poise under pressure, with Shelton also seeing off two break points, but Alcaraz held his nerve to take the first-set tie-break, winning four of the final five points from 4-3 down.

Shelton finally capitalised when Alcaraz opened the door with an error-strewn third-serve game in the second set. But with the set in sight as he served for a 5-3 lead, Alcaraz struck back.

The Spaniard pointed to his ear, calling for more noise from the crowd after edging a breathless exchange to hold a 5-4 lead, his confidence clear as he danced to the music inside the stadium during the change of ends.

It wasn’t long before Alcaraz raised his arms in celebration after ending Shelton’s resistance on a second match point, embracing his team courtside after closing out the title with five of the final six games.

It was Alcaraz’s ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown, leaving Canada and Shanghai as the only titles he needs to emulate Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner as the third man to win all nine tournaments at that level.

Patten & Heliovaara seal ‘beautiful’ year-end number one spot

Great Britain’s Henry Patten and doubles partner Harri Heliovaara have secured the year-end world number one ranking for the first time.

The Wimbledon champions, who only joined forces in 2024, confirmed they will end a successful 2026 as the top-ranked men’s doubles pairing with their run to the semi-finals in Paris, which also sealed their place at the ATP Finals.

Patten and Heliovaara reclaimed their Wimbledon title this summer and also triumphed in Adelaide, Doha, Dubai and Madrid.

Patten said: “It’s an incredible achievement, one that goes to the very top of my list of best achievements as a tennis player.

“When I look back on the journey me and Harri have been on together when we started in 2024, I was ranked around number 60 in the world and Harri was around 40.

“In two years we’ve worked incredibly hard and to go from where we started to where we are now, on top of the world, is beautiful.”

Heliovaara said: “One of the crazy dreams comes true again. A few years ago I would have never imagined this could be possible.”