PARIS, Nov 8 — Carlos Alcaraz downed former world number two Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to set up a Paris Masters final clash with Ben Shelton.
It will be the first meeting between the pair since world number four Shelton ended Alcaraz’s US Open title defence in the quarter-finals earlier this season.
The Flushing Meadows runner-up earned his place in Sunday’s final by cutting short the fairytale run of French world number 47 Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the first semi-final match-up.
“Obviously, Carlos speaks for himself winning the title last week (in Vienna), he’s playing great indoor tennis and entertaining tennis as well,” third seed Shelton had said of the possibility of meeting Alcaraz.
After saving two match points in his exhilarating come-from-behind victory over Taylor Fritz on Friday, second seed Alcaraz needed no such heroics in a controlled straight-sets win against Norway’s Ruud in his last-four clash.
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 as he earned his first final appearance in Paris.
‘Enjoying myself’
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.
“I made a significant amount of forehand unforced errors in the first set and really my goal after that was to cut out those unforced errors, to be a little bit more solid,” Shelton said.
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,” Shelton said.
“These are the positions that I want to be in, playing against the best players in the world, and I’m happy that I gave myself another opportunity to compete for the title.”
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 as Shelton showed his fighting spirit again.
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. — AFP
