Alcaraz maintained control throughout the contest against Ruud, a player he has now beaten seven times in eight career meetings. Unlike his previous outing, where he was forced to save two match points against Taylor Fritz, Alcaraz faced no break points against the Norwegian and sealed the win with an ace. The Spaniard is now set for a high-stakes final against
A Rematch Defined by Redemption
The upcoming final carries extra significance for Alcaraz, who holds a 3-1 head-to-head record against Shelton but lost their most recent meeting during a grueling late-night quarterfinal at the US Open. Reflecting on that defeat, which concluded at 3:33 a.m., Alcaraz expressed his desire to adjust his approach. He noted that he intends to execute different strategies during the critical moments of the match that did not go his way during their last clash.
Shelton’s Resilient Path to the Final
Ben Shelton earned his spot in the championship match by overcoming a challenging semifinal against unseeded Frenchman Luca Van Assche. After dropping the first set, the No. 3 seed found himself trailing by a break in the deciding set, with Van Assche holding a 3-1 lead. However, Shelton demonstrated significant composure, winning four consecutive games to shift the momentum in his favor.
Shelton, who is chasing his fifth title of the year and his eighth overall, credited his recovery to a more disciplined approach. He focused on reducing his unforced errors and utilizing the court's speed to his advantage. The American finished the match with 19 aces, including a decisive serve to close out the victory. Having already secured two Masters titles in Montreal, Shelton now looks to add the Paris trophy to his collection in what promises to be a compelling final against Alcaraz.
