Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Carlos Alcaraz has avenged his loss to Ben Shelton in the US Open last eight as he edged the American 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 to win the Paris Masters and clinch his ninth ATP 1000 title.
World No.3 Alcaraz controlled the contest from the baseline to become the first Spaniard to win the tournament since David Ferrer in 2012, while Shelton was left frustrated by an erratic forehand.
Alcaraz saved six break points and failed to convert two, as the first set remained deadlocked until the tiebreak, where Shelton overshot the baseline three times on his forehand, allowing the Spaniard to take the set.
World No.4 Shelton capitalised on two double faults and wayward top-spins from Alcaraz to go 3-2 up in the second, and extended the lead with two aces in the following game.
But Alcaraz fought back with a break of his own to make it 4-4, landing two cross-court winners as Shelton netted a forehand and went long with another.
With Alcaraz leading 6-5, Shelton stumbled again while serving to stay in the match, overshooting two forehands before the seven-times Grand Slam winner clinched victory with a perfectly timed backhand down the line.
“It is something I have been chasing for a long time,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.
“Some of the toughest defeats I ever had in my career I have had here. Finally I got my level here. I found the right path and the right way to do things. I am really proud of myself and the team.
“The way they have pushed me forward. This one means a lot to me.”
