Carlos Alcaraz defeated Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 in Sunday’s Paris Masters final, claiming his first title at the tournament a week after winning in Vienna.

The victory turned around their US Open quarterfinal result from September, when Shelton prevailed in five sets in a match lasting 4 hours, 28 minutes.

At the trophy ceremony, Alcaraz recalled his previous disappointments in Paris. “I've had a lot of painful losses here, but we never give up. We felt really comfortable coming here this year,” he said.

“I want to give a big congratulations to Carlos,” Shelton said. “I don't think everybody realises how difficult it is to win back-to-back - from Vienna to Paris. Ten matches in 14 days. It speaks to your versatility as a champion and the work you put in.”

Shelton then told Alcaraz, “Every time I'm on the court with you I feel like you bring out the best in me - [I'm] super happy to have you back and healthy.”

Alcaraz returned the praise, saying Shelton always comes back “even stronger” after a loss and joking that he was “going to be afraid of you.”

Neither player surrendered serve during the 65-minute opening set. Shelton had six break points but converted none, according to Sky Sports. Alcaraz roared toward the Paris crowd once he had won the tie-break.

Shelton found a breakthrough in the second set, breaking Alcaraz to love at 3-2 and hitting two aces in that game. Alcaraz immediately broke back to make it 4-4.

Alcaraz later struck a winner off a Shelton drop shot for the decisive break, taking the set 7-5.

Former Paris Masters champion Tim Henman, who was commentating courtside for Sky Sports, assessed the final for the broadcaster. “It was fairly erratic from both men, but when it mattered most Alcaraz was able to come up with the goods when he needed it,” Henman said, according to Yahoo Sports.

Paris gave Alcaraz five titles from six finals in 2026. He has now captured seven of the nine different Masters 1000 tournaments.

Alcaraz returned at the US Open after a wrist injury layoff and has since taken titles in Tokyo, Vienna and Paris. Sky Sports counted the final as his ninth straight match victory, while Yahoo Sports put his streak at 10 matches.

Shelton will work next season with Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s former coach. Ferrero’s partnership with Alcaraz ended in December 2025. Shelton’s father also coaches him.

Alcaraz and Shelton will both play at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, from Nov. 15-22. Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar complete the field, with Jodar taking the eighth and final place.