Shelton applauds Alcaraz’s prediction: “He defined it very well before the final, it all depends on the small details”

Carlos Alcaraz He graduated with distinction in indoor and fast track. From suffering in these elements, although he had the title of Rotterdam 2025 as an exciting background, to ecstasy in two weeks of accelerated training that has turned him into a master of the specialty. Champion at the ATP 500 in Vienna and the Masters 1000 in Paris.

Eight consecutive games won, some against excellent experts, such as Taylor Fritz, against whom he had to overcome two match points in the quarterfinals. He also tamed, without so much trouble, a ‘gunboat’ like Ben Shelton.

The day before the final, Alcaraz had warned Shelton, his executioner in the US Open, of what could happen. He telegraphed his wishes and his intentions. “I want revenge, we will study different things at specific moments, at important ones. We will improve the details,” he said on Saturday.

He fulfilled it on Sunday. He returned to the path of victory over Shelton, whom he beat 7-6 (5) and 7-5, in his fourth victory in five meetings. There was equality in the first set, an exceptional reaction from Alcaraz in the second, from an adverse 2-4.

The American is clear about what happened, he applauded Alcaraz’s thesis, even if it was against him on this occasion. “I think Carlos defined it very well yesterday: everything depends on the small details. The difference in our US Open match was those small details, and the same thing happened here. On a court as fast as Paris, the margins are minimal.”

Alcaraz exploited them better, he had more inspiration. Shelton said that “you have to give a lot of credit to Carlos. I think I still haven’t reached perfection indoors. I haven’t played my best game yet,” especially in the peak moments. He failed in some decisions that resulted in errors.

There is another opportunity before finishing the individual campaign. From November 15 to 22, the ATP Finals in Turin. “I arrive in Turin with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. It was a great week for me in Paris, after the previous disappointment,” commented Shelton, remembering his early defeat in Basel against the Swiss Jerome Kym.