- Published
Just 60 days after his comeback tournament was ended in a late-night New York blockbuster against Ben Shelton, Carlos Alcaraz took his revenge.
asserted
Alcaraz → publish → revenge
In doing so, the Spaniard offered the latest indication that his ascension back to the top of the men's game is nearing completion.
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ascension → do → completion
Alcaraz exceeded expectations when, on his return from four months out with a wrist injury, he reached the US Open quarter-finals in September before going out in an astonishing five-set epic against rising American star Shelton.
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he → exceed → Shelton
In the two months since, Alcaraz has won three titles and lost once in 17 matches.
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Alcaraz → win → matches
Victory over world number four Shelton on Sunday sealed the 23-year-old's first triumph at the prestigious Paris Masters 1000 tournament.
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Victory → seal → tournament
It also confirmed a fully-fit Alcaraz, who has now won seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events, will once again be ready to compete for the sport's major prizes in 2027.
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who → confirm → 2027
Following his 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 triumph, Alcaraz said: "It's something I've been chasing for a long time.
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I → follow → time
I had some of the toughest losses of my career here.
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I → have → career
"Today was one of the toughest challenges we have in tennis right now, facing Ben.
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we → have → Ben
He is doing better and better every tournament.
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He → do → ?
From here, it is going to be even tougher facing him.
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it → go → him
"I'm just really happy that I finally got it.
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I → get → it
Alcaraz moves closer to career Golden Masters
Alcaraz will now seek to end a challenging year - which he began by winning the Australian Open to become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam - with a statement victory at the ATP Finals in Turin.
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he → move → Turin
The seven-time major winner will head into that event on a nine-match win streak, having triumphed in Vienna before his victory in Paris.
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winner → head → Paris
Only two days ago, Alcaraz stood on the brink of a quarter-final loss to Taylor Fritz but saved two match points to pull off a comeback victory.
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Alcaraz → stand → victory
It is the fourth time in his career that he has won a title after being match points down at a tournament.
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he → win → tournament
That indomitable spirit was again on display as Alcaraz saved all six break points against him in a tense opening set against Shelton, who himself was fearless after a stellar year in which he has won four titles and reached a first major final.
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he → save → final
Both players demonstrated admirable poise under pressure, with Shelton also seeing off two break points, but it was Alcaraz who held his nerve to take the first-set tie-break by winning four of the final five points from 4-3 down.
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who → demonstrate → points
Shelton finally capitalised when Alcaraz opened the door in an error-strewn third service game in the second set.
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Alcaraz → capitalise → set
But, with the set in his sights as he served for a 5-3 lead, Alcaraz struck back.
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Alcaraz → serve → lead
The Spaniard pointed to his ear in a call for more noise from the crowd after edging a breathless exchange to hold for a 5-4 advantage, his confidence clear as he danced to the music inside the stadium during the change of ends.
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he → point → ends
It was not long before Alcaraz raised his arms in celebration after ending Shelton's resistance on a second match point, embracing his team courtside after closing out the title by winning five of the final six games.
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Alcaraz → raise → games
It was a ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown overall for Alcaraz, and left Canada and Shanghai as the only titles he requires to emulate Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner as just the third man to win all nine tournaments at that level.
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he → leave → level
Patten & Heliovaara seal 'beautiful' year-end number one spot
Great Britain's Henry Patten and doubles partner Harri Heliovaara have secured the year-end world number one ranking for the first time.
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Patten → seal → time
The Wimbledon champions, who only joined forces in 2024, confirmed they will end a successful 2026 as the top-ranked men's doubles pairing with their run to the semi-finals in Paris, which also sealed their place at the ATP Finals.
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which → join → Finals
Patten and Heliovaara reclaimed their Wimbledon title this summer and also triumphed in Adelaide, Doha, Dubai and Madrid.
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Patten → reclaim → Adelaide
Patten said: "It's an incredible achievement, one that goes to the very top of my list of best achievements as a tennis player.
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that → say → player
"When I look back on the journey me and Harri have been on together when we started in 2024, I was ranked around number 60 in the world and Harri was around 40.
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Harri → look → world
"In two years we've worked incredibly hard and to go from where we started to where we are now, on top of the world, is beautiful."
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we → work → world
Heliovaara said: "One of the crazy dreams comes true again.
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One → say → dreams
A few years ago I would have never imagined this could be possible."
uncertain
this → imagine → ?
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