Carlos Alcaraz Advances to Maiden Paris Masters Final to Face Ben Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his first Paris Masters final following an 6-4 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud on Saturday. The 23-year-old Spaniard secured the win in 86 minutes by demonstrating all-court superiority, winning 86 percent of points on his first serve and hitting 20 winners. A single break settled each set, which Alcaraz both concluded with an ace while denying Ruud any break opportunities.

The victory marks Alcaraz's first appearance in the Paris showpiece, having never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals at the tournament. The achievement also means Alcaraz has now reached the final at seven of the nine prestigious ATP Masters 1000 events.

Alcaraz will now face Ben Shelton in the final, setting up a rematch of their US Open quarter-final in September, which Shelton won in an epic five-set encounter. Looking ahead to the fixture, Alcaraz described the matchup as one of the most difficult challenges in the sport.

Reflecting on his upcoming opponent, Alcaraz noted that Shelton is playing great tennis. Alcaraz expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming contest, stating that he intends to enjoy the moment after pursuing a place in the Paris final for a long time.

Alcaraz has been rebuilding his form following a four-month absence earlier in the season due to a wrist injury. Despite missing a substantial part of the year, he has reached six tour-level finals in 2026, a mark matched only by Shelton and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz enters the final on an eight-match winning streak, having recently triumphed in Vienna.