PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz said Saturday that taking on world No. 4 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 quarterfinals 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 No. 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 quarterfinals, 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.
