Shelton fights back to set up Alcaraz final at Paris Masters

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Ben Shelton will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris Masters final after recovering from a set and a deciding-set break down to beat Luca Van Assche on Saturday. The American won 5–7, 6–3, 6–4 to reach the final of the tournament for the first time.

Alcaraz secured the other place with a 6–4, 6–4 victory over Casper Ruud. The second and third seeds will meet for the title on Sunday, 8 November, with both making their first appearance in the Paris final.

Van Assche took the opening set by securing its only break at 5–5. Shelton responded in the second, breaking for a 4–2 lead before levelling the match and taking the semi-final into a third set at the Plenitude Arena.

The Frenchman regained the initiative when he broke for a 3–1 advantage in the decider. Shelton immediately recovered the break, however, and moved level at 3–3 before applying further pressure to Van Assche’s serve.

Van Assche saved three break points in the next game, but Shelton converted his fourth opportunity to move 4–3 ahead. The American protected that lead and eventually completed victory on his second match point.

The result gives Shelton his third Masters 1000 final and his first outside Canada. He won the title at both of his previous finals at that level, in Toronto in 2025 and Montreal in 2026. Paris will also be his sixth final of this season.

For Van Assche, defeat ended a run to his first Masters 1000 semi-final. The 22-year-old had beaten Mariano Navone, Learner Tien, Lorenzo Musetti and Rinky Hijikata during the week, leaving Shelton as the last obstacle between him and a home final.

Sources

• FFT: Van Assche beaten by Shelton after leading in the deciding set
• Tennis Majors: Shelton reaches third Masters 1000 final after Van Assche comeback (2026-11-07)
• Paris Masters: Official completed semi-final results
• Tennis Majors: Completed semi-final scores and confirmed Sunday final