Alcaraz and Shelton set up Paris Masters final rematch

Carlos Alcaraz beat former world number two Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the Paris Masters final, where he will meet Ben Shelton on Sunday. It will be the first meeting between the two since Shelton ended Alcaraz's US Open title defence in the quarter-finals earlier this season.

Alcaraz controls semi-final

Second seed Alcaraz had needed to save two match points in his three-set win over Taylor Fritz on Friday. Against Ruud, he needed no such escape. The seven-time Grand Slam champion ground down his opponent from the back of the court in the first set and earned the only break he needed in the seventh game.

Alcaraz then created three break point chances on Ruud's serve and converted the second when the 27-year-old netted an approach shot. He served out the match at the second attempt, sealing it with an ace. It is the first time the 23-year-old has reached the final in Paris.

Shelton comes back against Van Assche

Earlier, third seed Shelton beat Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the first semi-final. The win sends the left-hander into his sixth final of the season. It also gives him the chance to add a third Masters-level title, after he won the last two editions of the Canadian Open.

Shelton struggled with unforced errors from his forehand in the first set, and Van Assche took it after Shelton lost his own serve in the 11th game. Shelton said his goal after that was to cut out those errors and become more solid. His level rose in the second set, and a forehand passing shot at 15-40 gave him the break that put him ahead 4-2 and forced a decider.

The third set was tight, with consecutive breaks in the middle of the set. Shelton, who has 10 final appearances on his record, then broke Van Assche to lead 4-3 and closed out the match at the second match point. Van Assche had been a break up in the deciding set but could not hold on.

Shelton on the final

Shelton said that keeping fully engaged this late in the season is difficult, but that he was enjoying himself on court, which made things easier. "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," he said.

Shelton had earlier spoken about Alcaraz, saying the Spaniard had won the title in Vienna the previous week and was playing well indoors. Van Assche, 22, came close to the biggest win of his career and his first Masters final. He had reached the semi-finals by eliminating former world number five Lorenzo Musetti and 15th seed Learner Tien of the United States.