Alcaraz will now look to end a difficult year – which he began by becoming the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open – with a resounding victory at the ATP Finals in Turin.
The seven-time major winner will enter this event with a nine-match winning streak, having triumphed in Vienna before his victory in Paris.
Just two days ago, Alcaraz was on the brink of a quarterfinal loss to Taylor Fritz, but saved two match points to earn a comeback victory.
This is the fourth time in his career that he has won a title after losing match points during a tournament.
That indomitable spirit was on display again when Alcaraz saved all six break points against him in a tense first set against Shelton, who himself was undaunted after a stellar year in which he won four titles and reached a first major final.
Both players showed admirable composure under pressure, with Shelton also having two break points, but it was Alcaraz who kept his composure to win the first set tiebreak by winning four of the final five points 4-3.
Shelton finally capitalized when Alcaraz broke the deadlock in an error-strewn third service game in the second set. But, with the set in his sights as he served for a 5-3 lead, Alcaraz fought back.
The Spaniard pointed to his ear to call for more noise from the crowd after avoiding a breathless rally to maintain a 5-4 advantage, his confidence evident as he danced to the music inside the stadium during the change of ends.
It didn’t take long before Alcaraz raised his arms in celebration after ending Shelton’s resistance on a second match point, embracing his team on the court after closing out the title by winning five of the last six games.
It was a ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown for Alcaraz, and Canada and Shanghai are the only titles he needs to emulate Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner as the third man to win all nine tournaments at this level.
Gn sports
