ATP Carlos Alcaraz ATP Rolex Paris Masters 2026

Alcaraz, after winning Paris: "It's special, here I had one of the worst defeats of my career"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 8 Nov 2026
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Alcaraz, after conquering Paris: "It's special, here I had one of the worst defeats of my career." Photo: Gettyimages

Carlos Alcaraz has finally lifted the curse of the Paris Masters 1000. While he has achieved success at Roland Garros twice, the indoor hard court in the French capital has been a true nightmare for the Murcian. After some tough and surprising defeats, the Spaniard became the champion by defeating Ben Shelton 7-6(5), 7-5 in a closely contested final.

The memory of Alcaraz will always hold that defeat against Hugo Gaston in 2021, when at just 18 years old he first experienced the pressure of having an entire crowd against him. Even though five years have passed since that moment, the Spaniard has not forgotten it. Therefore, winning this title takes on a different dimension. He confirmed this in statements made on the court with TennisTV.

Alcaraz captured his fifth title of 2026

“This is something I have been pursuing for a long time, I had some of the worst losses of my career in this tournament, I hadn't played at my best level, I felt uncomfortable on this court. Finally, I found my level, the right path, and the right way to do things. I am very proud of myself and how my team pushes me to do things right. Facing Shelton is one of the great challenges in today's tennis, and I am very happy to have found a way to respond to his serve and showcase my best level. This title is very special.”

And in the subsequent awards ceremony, he did not hesitate to praise Shelton's great level: “It has been an incredible week for you and your team. You are amazing, man. On the court, off the court, you are incredible with your team, in terms of tennis. As a person as well. I want to congratulate you not only for this week but for everything. You always show everyone what a true champion is. After a defeat, you always come back even stronger. I am pretty sure that next week at the ATP Finals, you will come back even stronger. I’m going to be a little afraid of you,” concluded Carlos Alcaraz, who finally gets revenge at the Paris Masters 1000.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz, tras conquistar París: "Es especial, aquí tuve una de las peores derrotas de mi carrera"