World · Malaysia Bureau
Alcaraz advances to Paris Masters final to face Shelton
World number two Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the Paris Masters final with a commanding semi-final victory over Casper Ruud. American Ben Shelton also booked his place in Sunday's decider after a hard-fought win over Luca Van Assche.
LSN Malaysia ·
Alcaraz proved too strong for the Norwegian former world number two, dispatching Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in their semi-final encounter at the Paris Bercy arena on Saturday. The Spaniard's dominant display underscores his status as one of the tournament's leading contenders heading into the final.
In the other semi-final, American Ben Shelton secured a berth in the championship match after overcoming unseeded Luca Van Assche in a three-set thriller. Shelton, seeded higher than his 47th-ranked opponent, recovered from losing the opening set to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
The victory marked another impressive showing for Shelton at the Paris Masters, where he has emerged as an unlikely finalist. His ability to regroup after dropping the first set against Van Assche demonstrates the resilience required to contend for the title.
Sunday's final will pit Alcaraz's consistency and technical prowess against Shelton's rising form and powerful game. The clash represents an intriguing generational battle on the men's professional tennis circuit.