PARIS — In a thrilling match at the Paris Masters, Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in a third final since the U.S. Open by overcoming Casper Ruud with a score of 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.
The No. 2 seed Alcaraz is set to face off against No. 3 Ben Shelton for the coveted title. Shelton displayed remarkable tenacity, rebounding from a break down in the final set to defeat Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in their semifinal battle.
Although Alcaraz holds a 3-1 edge over Shelton in their head-to-head encounters, he suffered a defeat during their last meeting in a dramatic quarterfinal at the U.S. Open that concluded at 3:33 a.m.
“I’m eager to get my revenge on Ben,” Alcaraz stated emphatically. “That last match was really tough. I plan to approach crucial moments differently this time.”
After saving two match points against Taylor Fritz just the day before, Alcaraz maintained his composure against Ruud, facing no break points in the match and sealing it with an ace. He has now triumphed over Ruud seven times in eight encounters.
Alcaraz promised fans that the upcoming clash with Shelton would be “a fantastic match to watch” and appears ready to delight the audience.
One of Alcaraz’s most dazzling moments against Ruud was a perfectly executed volleyed drop-shot winner during the fourth game of the second set, showcasing a subtle flick of the wrist that earned resounding applause from the crowd at Plenitude Arena.
“I’m really proud of my performance,” Alcaraz expressed. “I’ve entered this part of the season feeling refreshed, hungry, and full of ambition.”
Alcaraz is eyeing his fifth title of the year, adding to his recent victory in Vienna, and chasing the 29th title of his burgeoning career.
Shelton found himself in a tight spot when Van Assche broke his serve for a 3-1 lead in the deciding set.
Yet, the U.S. Open runner-up quickly shifted gears, winning four consecutive games to take control at 5-3 against the unseeded Frenchman.
“I understand that there’s always a sliver of opportunity,” Shelton remarked. “If I can stay bold, hold my serve, and keep pace with my opponent, I feel I have a chance.”
After Van Assche managed to hold serve under strain, Shelton wrapped up the match, edging closer to his fifth title of the year and eighth overall. He aims for a third Masters title, having won the Montreal championship twice.
For Van Assche, whose only career title was secured this year on outdoor clay in Estoril, Portugal, this match marked his debut in a Masters semifinal, where he narrowly clinched a tense first set. Shelton leveled the match with a dominant love hold highlighted by a sharp backhand volley at the net.
Van Assche surged ahead with a break to 3-1, returning Shelton’s looping serve with a fierce forehand pass down the line.
However, Shelton responded immediately with a break back, held serve to love for 3-3, and regained the advantage as Van Assche seemed to tire. A grin spread across Shelton’s face when his 19th ace of the match brought the score to 5-3.
“I made quite a few forehand unforced errors in the first set, and my goal was to minimize those while capitalizing on the court’s speed,” Shelton reflected. “I really found my rhythm in the later stages.”
