Alcaraz Outlasts Shelton in French Open Epic, Survives Four-Set “War of Attrition” to Reach Quarters
Reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz showcased his champion’s mettle on Sunday, battling through a grueling four-set encounter against American powerhouse Ben Shelton to secure his spot in the French Open quarter-finals.
In a contest that lived up to its billing as a potential classic, the Spaniard emerged victorious 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after more than three hours of electrifying tennis on Court Philippe Chatrier. The match was a captivating display of “blistering serves, power-hitting and drop-shots,” keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam winner, acknowledged the intensity of the battle and the quality of his opponent. “I think we both have huge respect to each other, we entertained the people well,” Alcaraz stated on court. He further praised Shelton’s formidable game: “He’s a really powerful player — he can make any shot… I appreciate the moment that I’ve shared with him today.”
The opening set was a nail-biter, with only a single unconverted break point troubling the servers. It fittingly culminated in a lengthy tie-break where both players had opportunities to seize the advantage. Alcaraz eventually clinched it 8-6, laying down an early marker.
The young Spaniard carried that momentum into the second set, finally managing to break the big-serving Shelton. That solitary break proved decisive, allowing Alcaraz to build a commanding two-set lead.
However, the 13th-seeded American refused to go quietly. Shelton roared back in the third set, demonstrating his resilience by securing two breaks of serve against Alcaraz to take the frame 6-4, ensuring the Parisian crowd would be treated to more enthralling tennis.
Undeterred, Alcaraz, referred to in the provided text as 22-years-old, regrouped in the fourth. He regained control, breaking Shelton to gain the crucial advantage before expertly serving out the match as dusk began to settle over the iconic center court.
The victory sets up another intriguing clash for Alcaraz, as he will face another American, 12th seed Tommy Paul, in the last eight. Paul booked his quarter-final spot with a convincing straight-sets win over Alexei Popyrin earlier in the day.
This hard-fought win over Shelton not only keeps Alcaraz’s French Open title defense alive but also underscores his ability to triumph in a “war of attrition” against a rising star of the game, further solidifying his status as a dominant force in men’s tennis.
