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Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton both apologised after forgetting to mention Boris Becker during the Paris Masters trophy ceremony. In a meeting of the second and third seeds, Alcaraz beat Shelton 7-6(5) 7-5 to lift the iconic tree-branch trophy here for the very first time. This year was the Paris Masters’ 40th anniversary, and a whole host of former champions returned to the French capital this year to take part in ceremonies and pre-match coin tosses. For the championship match, Becker – who lifted the title here 40 years ago – took part in the proceedings, watched the match from the front row, and then joined in the trophy presentation.
After losing a Masters 1000 final for the first time in his career, Shelton gave a classy speech, paying tribute to Alcaraz before thanking his own team, the fans, and those involved in organising the tournament. The American thought he had finished, but quickly grabbed the microphone again so he could acknowledge Becker.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I forgot one thing, I can’t… To Boris,” Shelton started. The retired German tennis legend looked surprised and told the world No. 4: “It’s okay! Forget about me.”
But Shelton wanted to pay tribute to the former champion. “You won this tournament the first time it was played. It’s the 40-year anniversary. It’s an honour to stand on stage next to a legend like you, so congratulations,” he added.
Alcaraz then made the same mistake as he gave his victory speech. The world No. 3 went through the same motions – praising Shelton, thanking his team, the tournament organisers, and the fans. Then, he realised he’d forgotten about Becker.
“And obviously, I mean, I talk too much and sometimes I forget things,” he grinned. “Obviously here, Boris, 40 years ago he was the first [champion] here in Paris and after you, all the players are coming. So everything you’ve done for tennis, I just want say thank you and it’s a pleasure you are here right now and watching the final, so thank you so much.”
The Spaniard had been keen to join Becker on the roll of honour. Until now, Alcaraz’s best result at the Paris Masters had been a quarter-final showing in 2022. He lost his opening match here to Britain’s Cameron Norrie last year, and always struggled with the indoor conditions at the end of a long season.
Having spent almost five months sidelined by a wrist injury earlier this year, Alcaraz has arrived at the European indoor hard-court swing feeling fresher than usual. And it’s made a difference. He also won the Vienna Open a week ago before being crowned the champion in Paris.
Immediately after beating Shelton in Sunday’s final – revenge for a five-set defeat at the US Open earlier this year – Alcaraz said: “Well, I mean it’s something I’ve been chasing for a long time to be honest. Probably one of the toughest losses that I’ve ever had in my career, I had it here. Couple first rounds, couple second round [losses]. Not finding my best level, not feeling comfortable in this surface in this court, playing with this pace. And finally, you know, I got my level here. I found the right path, the right way to do the things.
“So I’m just, I’m really proud about myself, I’m really proud about my team. Everything they’ve done for me, always pushing forward. This one means a lot to me. Obviously today, it was one of the toughest challenges we have in tennis right now, facing Ben Shelton. Great champion, great player, great person.
“He’s doing better and better after every tournament so from here, it’s going to be even tougher facing him, so I’m just really happy that I just found a way with returning his serves, putting into play and trying to play my style, to be myself on court. Really happy that finally I got it and this one is going to be really special.”
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