The semifinal matches at the Rolex Paris Masters delivered top-tier tennis, setting up a Sunday title clash between Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz. The home crowd was left without their favorite, who, despite a brilliant start, had to congratulate the American on his hard-fought victory.
Shelton Stops Van Assche with a Comeback
Luca Van Assche was one step away from another historic milestone and a spot in the final, but third seed Ben Shelton managed to mount a comeback, winning 2-1 (5-7, 6-3, 6-4). The match lasted 2 hours and 17 minutes. Although the Frenchman, carried by the crowd, took the first set, the American’s devastating serve proved decisive as he fired 19 aces compared to Van Assche’s 9. Shelton dominated on his first serve, winning 83% of those points (53/64), while Van Assche saved 4 of 7 break points, which ultimately wasn’t enough to prevent the turnaround.
Alcaraz Routine Against Ruud
In the second semifinal, second seed Carlos Alcaraz allowed no surprises, defeating Casper Ruud in straight sets, 2-0 (6-4, 6-4). The Spaniard finished the job in just 1 hour and 27 minutes. Alcaraz read his opponent’s serves beautifully, converting two of his five break opportunities, while not allowing the Norwegian a single break point throughout the entire match. Ruud recorded 7 aces to Alcaraz’s 3, but the Spaniard controlled the tempo with an impressive 86% points won on his first serve (31/36) and a total of 23 winners.
Grand Final Schedule
The spectacular tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, featuring a blockbuster showdown between two elite players:
- 3:00 PM: Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz will battle for the Paris Masters championship trophy.
For the complete draw, past results, and all other tournament information from the Plénitude Arena, visit our central hub: ATP Paris Masters 2026: Draw, Seeds, Results, and Schedule.
