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Carlos Alcaraz Says He’s Made Progress After Winning Paris Masters Title

Carlos Alcaraz secured another ATP title by defeating Ben Shelton in the final of the Paris Masters. The Spaniard won 7-6(7-5), 7-5 in a gripping match lasting nearly two hours in the French capital, marking his fifth title of 2026 and the 29th overall in his career.

This tournament was only Alcaraz’s fourth since returning from a four-month injury break that ended at the US Open. Besides Paris, he also captured trophies in Tokyo and Vienna this year. He described the week in Paris as particularly special.

Alcaraz's Titles Breakdown

  • 2026: 5 titlesParis Masters 1000 (Indoor/Hard), Vienna (Indoor/Hard), Tokyo (Outdoor/Hard), Doha (Outdoor/Hard), Australian Open (Outdoor/Hard)
  • 2025: 8 titlesTokyo, US Open, Cincinnati Masters 1000, London/Queen's Club, Roland Garros, Rome Masters 1000, Monte-Carlo Masters 1000, Rotterdam
  • 2024: 4 titlesBeijing, Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Indian Wells Masters 1000
  • 2023: 6 titlesWimbledon, London/Queen's Club, Madrid Masters 1000, Barcelona, Indian Wells Masters 1000, Buenos Aires
  • 2022: 5 titlesUS Open, Madrid Masters 1000, Barcelona, Miami Masters 1000, Rio de Janeiro
  • 2021: 1 titleUmag

Alcaraz Reflects on His Mental Growth

After his win, Alcaraz told reporters in Paris that this week felt like a step forward for him mentally. Although he matched the tennis level he showed in Vienna earlier this year, he emphasized overcoming tough moments during matches by controlling his emotions and thoughts.

"I had many difficult moments internally, fighting with myself to stay positive and strong mentally," he said. "I'm really happy I managed to control my emotions and thoughts every single match. For me, I feel I've taken one step forward."

He considers these last two weeks his best stretch since coming back from injury.

Looking Ahead to ATP Finals

Alcaraz will compete next at the ATP Finals in Turin. When asked if he sees himself as the favorite, he said he prefers not to focus on that label. Instead, he plans to keep improving and enjoy playing his game.

"The matches here were very close. I'm feeling comfortable and improving on this surface and courts," he explained. "I’ll try to do the same things I’ve been doing, keep moving forward, and evolve my game. Whether I’m the favorite or not is not something I want to think about. I'll just play my tennis and enjoy it."

Comments from Tennis Experts

The tennis community has taken notice of Alcaraz’s steady rise post-injury. WTA legend Tracy Austin praised his ability to adapt against different types of opponents, highlighting his blend of defense and offense.

"It's exciting to see Carlos back in a big way," Austin remarked. "Against Taylor Fritz, he faced match points but found ways to win. Fans are thrilled to see him return so strongly."

Coach Brad Gilbert, known for working with Coco Gauff, pointed out changes in Alcaraz’s serve speed since the US Open.

"Carlos has won three of four tournaments after the US Open," Gilbert said. "His serve velocity has improved dramatically, hitting high 130s mph compared to barely breaking 120 before. You can see the Juan Carlos Ferrero influence in his game, especially indoors."

Future Matchups and Coaching

It will be interesting to watch how Shelton develops, especially since he brought on Carlos Ferrero as a coach alongside his father, Bryan Shelton. Both Alcaraz and Shelton will head to Turin, where they might face each other again at the ATP Finals.

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