Carlos Alcaraz has not forgotten the last time Ben Shelton beat him.
The world No. 3 plays the American world No. 4 for the Rolex Paris Masters title on Sunday at the Paris La Défense Arena, their first meeting since Shelton won their five-set US Open quarterfinal in September. That contest ended at 3:33am, the latest finish in US Open history.
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 3-1 and has openly flagged the motivation for this one.
“Tomorrow is going to be a big day. I’m really happy and excited. I really want to take revenge against Ben,” he told ATPTour.com after the semifinal.
Read also: Stephen Curry’s new warriors teammate overtakes no. 1 NBA draft pick in Rookie of the Year race
A first-time Paris champion is guaranteed
Neither player has won the Paris event before. Shelton’s path went past Cameron Norrie, Arthur Rinderknech and Tommy Paul before he eliminated French wild card Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday. Alcaraz needed three sets against Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinal, saving two match points, before beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal.
He has reached Sunday’s final without facing a single break point all week.
Jannik Sinner, last year’s champion, is not in the draw. The Italian ended his 2026 season early with a right knee injury that has kept him off tour since Wimbledon.
Shelton brings the US Open scalp with him
The American has the serve, the fresh memory of having beaten Alcaraz two months ago in New York, and the self-possession of a 24-year-old who already knows he can.
Read also: Tiger Woods and ex-wife Elin Nordegren reunite 16 years after divorce for special family moment
“Obviously Carlos is in amazing form. He’s a young legend in our sport already, and any match he is in is a blockbuster,” Shelton told reporters on Saturday.
Shelton lost the first set in three of his four matches here and came back every time. The Alcaraz he will face on Sunday is coming off the Vienna 500 title and arrives on an eight-match winning streak.
Ferrero in Shelton’s corner from 2027
Shelton has announced that Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s long-time former coach, will join his team for the 2027 season. Ferrero is not yet in his box in Paris.
Both players are also chasing their first Masters 1000 title of the year, and the winner heads to the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next week.
Read also: “Obviously, Madrid”: Man Utd wonderkid makes feelings clear ahead of Real Madrid move
Play starts at 3pm local time inside the Paris La Défense Arena.
Read also: Liverpool star set for January return after just 152 minutes and no starts in Spain
