Alcaraz sets up Paris Masters final clash with Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz said Saturday that taking on world number four Ben Shelton is “one of the best challenges” in tennis after the Spaniard beat Casper Ruud to set up a Paris Masters final clash with the American.

It will be the first meeting between the pair since Shelton ended Alcaraz’s US Open title defence in the quarter-finals earlier this season.

Alcaraz downed former world number two Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final to book his spot in Sunday’s final.

Flushing Meadows runner-up Shelton earned his place by cutting short the fairytale run of French world number 47 Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. 

“Ben Shelton made the final of the US Open, he beat me playing a great tennis match,” Alcaraz told reporters.

“I will try to prepare myself the best that I can, (my) reflexes are going to have to be 10 out of 10 if I want to return his serves.

“I will try to play my best, otherwise I think he’s going to beat me. (Playing Shelton is) one of the best challenges that we have in tennis right now.”

After saving two match points in his exhilarating comeback victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, second seed Alcaraz needed no such heroics in a controlled straight-sets win against Norway’s Ruud on Saturday.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion methodically ground down Ruud from the back of the court in the first set, getting the sole break of serve he needed in the seventh game.

Alcaraz then forced three break points on Ruud’s serve, converting the second when the 27-year-old netted an approach shot, to give himself the chance to serve for the match. 

The 23-year-old did just that, sealing match point at the second time of asking with an ace.

Alcaraz said booking his first Paris Masters final berth “means a lot” to him. 

“I’ve been chasing this moment for a long time, I’ve been losing a lot of matches, first rounds that I’m not used to losing, really painful losses here, so I’m just really happy that I’ve been playing great tennis this week,” he explained.

“Tomorrow I’m going to step on the court and I will try to enjoy every single second out there.”

– ‘Entertaining tennis’ –

Earlier, Shelton’s win against Van Assche sent the left-hander through to his sixth final of the season.

It will also be a chance for him to add a third Masters-level title to his trophy cabinet, after he won the last two editions of the Canadian Open.

In the first set, Shelton amassed errors on his usually solid groundstrokes, eventually conceding his own serve in the 11th game as Van Assche took the opener.

His level rose in the second set, and a whipped forehand passing shot at 15-40 allowed him to break Van Assche and move ahead 4-2, before forcing a decider.

The nerves were palpable on court as two error-strewn games from both players produced consecutive breaks midway through the third set.

The more experienced Shelton, who has 10 final appearances on his record, exchanged a relaxed high five with his father and coach Bryan after a backhand winner to hold.

He then broke Van Assche in the next game to lead 4-3.

Shelton brought up two match points, securing his spot in the final at the second time of asking.

“I think it’s tough at this point in the season to be 100 percent still engaged and I think because I’m having fun out here and enjoying myself, it makes things easier,” the 24-year-old said.

“These are the positions that I want to be in, playing against the best players in the world.

“Obviously, Carlos speaks for himself winning the title last week (in Vienna), he’s playing great indoor tennis and entertaining tennis as well.”

Despite being a break up in the deciding set, Van Assche fell just short of the biggest win of his career and a first Masters final. 

It was a tournament to remember for the 22-year-old Van Assche, however, after eliminating former world number five Lorenzo Musetti and US 15th seed Learner Tien en route to the semi-finals.

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