In short:
Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Ben Shelton in the final of the Paris Masters, winning the tournament for the first time in his career.
asserted
Alcaraz → beat → career
Alcaraz downed the American 7-6 (5), 7-5, exacting revenge after being beaten by Shelton in the US Open semifinal earlier this year.
asserted
Alcaraz → down → semifinal
The Paris win took Alcaraz's total to five titles for the calendar year and 29 titles overall.
asserted
win → take → year
Carlos Alcaraz says he feels proud of taking "one step forward mentally" after following up his Vienna title last week with a 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Ben Shelton in the Paris Masters final.
asserted
he → say → final
The Spanish showman, who missed more than four months of the season because of an injured right wrist, continued his late-season surge in style.
asserted
who → miss → style
He has won all three finals he has reached since the US Open two months ago.
asserted
he → win → Open
Alcaraz took his total to five titles for the year and 29 overall, including the Japan Open last month.
asserted
Alcaraz → take → Open
The second-seeded Alcaraz threw his arms out wide in celebration after clinching victory on his second match point with a two-handed backhand winner down the line at the indoor Plenitude Arena.
asserted
Alcaraz → throw → Arena
The seven-time grand slam champion cracked a broad smile and briefly appeared to cry after earning a ninth Masters title and first in Paris.
"It is something I have been chasing for a long time.
asserted
I → crack → time
Some of the toughest defeats I ever had in my career I have had here," Alcaraz said.
asserted
Alcaraz → have → career
"Finally, I got my level here.
asserted
I → get → level
I found the right path and the right way to do things."
asserted
I → find → things
With the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin starting next Sunday he feels in a good position to win that trophy for the first time, too.
asserted
he → end → time
"I would say this week I made one step forward mentally," Alcaraz said.
asserted
Alcaraz → say → step
I'm happy I controlled my emotions every single match."
Earlier finish this time
Alcaraz won for the fourth time in five meetings with Shelton, who had beaten Alcaraz in a quarterfinal marathon at the US Open ending at 3:33am.
asserted
who → control → 3:33am
Shelton went on to reach the final, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.
asserted
he → go → Zverev
Alcaraz saved six break points in the first set of Monday morning's final and overcame a break of serve in the second set by breaking the third-seeded Shelton straight back, no mean feat considering Shelton had 12 aces compared to six for Alcaraz.
asserted
Shelton → save → Alcaraz
"He is always in a position to attack after that serve," Alcaraz said.
"It is really difficult to dominate that ball.
asserted
It → attack → ball
It is not only coming fast, it is coming with a lot of power."
Alcaraz, 23, did not drop a set in Vienna.
asserted
Alcaraz → come → Vienna
But it was harder work in Paris and he almost went out on Friday, saving two match points against Taylor Fritz in their quarterfinal.
asserted
he → go → quarterfinal
Shelton, 24, was seeking his eighth title overall and third Masters, having twice won the Montreal title.
asserted
Shelton → seek → title
The American recently added Juan Carlos Ferrero to his coaching staff, following on from Alcaraz's split with long-time coach Ferrero last year.
asserted
American → add → Ferrero
Both congratulated each other's shots, and Alcaraz made a point of walking around the net to hug Shelton and pat him on the chest after winning.
asserted
Alcaraz → congratulate → chest
Net battle
Both blessed with speed and agility, Alcaraz and Shelton drew each other to the net throughout, trading low, angled volleys.
asserted
Alcaraz → bless → volleys
Pushing the other to the extremities of the court, there were some improbable retrieves, including one by Shelton in the ninth game when the American almost did the splits.
asserted
American → push → splits
Shelton had an early advantage when he had Alcaraz 0-40 down in the fourth game.
asserted
he → have → game
The Spaniard went on to save four break points before finally holding.
asserted
Spaniard → go → points
In the second set, Alcaraz was 4-2 down but broke Shelton back when he hit a forehand long from the back of the court.
asserted
he → break → court
After that he definitively changed the momentum.
asserted
he → change → momentum
Shelton was "frustrated" at the missed opportunities, especially against someone like Alcaraz.
asserted
Shelton → miss → Alcaraz
If you miss your chance, it's likely that another isn't going to come," he said.
asserted
he → miss → chance
"It also speaks to his level, his ability to be clutch.
asserted
It → speak → level
"
That is the next step for Shelton, who believes this defeat and the US Open final loss to Zverev will serve him well.
asserted
defeat → believe → him
"When you get to play against the best consistently in big matches, I think that you learn so much," he said.
"
asserted
he → get → much
Now going to Turin against the eight best players in the world, that's the positions that I want to be in."
asserted
I → go → that
The Aporia
