Carlos Alcaraz’s excellent comeback continued as he defeated Ben Shelton 7-6(5) 7-5 to claim the Paris Masters title for the first time.

World No 3 Alcaraz missed nearly five months of the 2026 season with a wrist injury and his initial comeback came to an end at Shelton’s hands, with the American triumphing in a epic five-setter in the US Open quarter-finals.

Since then Alcaraz has lifted ATP 500 titles in Tokyo and Vienna, the latter just last week.

Despite not playing at his fluid best he scraped through in Paris - saving two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals - and he continued his late-season surge with victory in an entertaining encounter between two of the tour’s flair players and his first meeting with Shelton since New York.

Shelton made an assured start on serve and it was Alcaraz who came under pressure first, falling 0-40 down as the American led 2-1. But the Spaniard saved four break points to hold in a near eight-minute game, with a combination of deft volleys and aggression from the back of the court.

Both players struggled to take their chances as Shelton saved two break points - one with a sublime angled volley - to keep things on serve for a 4-3 lead, then spurned another two chances to break before Alcaraz held for 4-4 with a punishing, unreturned first serve.

Inevitably the first set went to a tiebreak, a contest of frequent momentum swings as eight of the 12 points went against serve. Shelton battled back from 1-3 down with an explosive smash while back-pedalling to the baseline, but could not press his advantage home.

Alcaraz set up two set points with a fierce backhand volley, spurning the first thanks to an unhelpful net cord which just dipped back onto his side, but let out a roar of relief as Shelton blasted a forehand wide to concede the first set 7-6(5) in just over an hour.

US Open runner-up Shelton won his previous three matches in Paris in three sets and would be forced to attempt another escape act, starting from 0-30 down in his first service game of the second set.

Four big first serves helped him out of trouble and he was rewarded for his patience as he finally broke Alcaraz’s serve for a 3-2 lead, the first break of the match, with a fierce angled return that Alcaraz could only send long.

A superb overhead smash from the American in the next game led to the first sign of genuine frustration for Alcaraz, who mimed throwing his racquet to the ground, as Shelton held to love.

The seven-time major winner was not at his best but took advantage of a dip in concentration by Shelton to break back to 15 in his next service game, levelling things for 4-4.

A superb point in the next game encapsulated the match: Shelton didn’t do a lot wrong in a finely-balanced rally until he sent a volley straight back at the Spaniard, with Alcaraz capitalising on acres of open space to plant the winner behind him, geeing up the appreciative crowd on his way to a hold to 15.

A much more relaxed Alcaraz smiled and danced along to Abba’s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ at the next changeover and kept the pressure on as the pair exchanged holds.

With Shelton serving to stay in the match, Alcaraz retrieved a brilliant lob from the back of the court and lashed a stunning forehand around the outside of the post for 15-30.

Shelton hit long to gift the Spaniard two championship points; he sprayed the first one wide but sealed the second with another superb point, covering every inch of the court before another forehand winner. He jumped for joy as he sealed his ninth Masters 1000 title and first in Paris before running to celebrate with his team and parents.

Shelton may have the chance for revenge as early as next week, as the pair have both qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals, which begin on 15 November in Turin.