USA’s Ben Shelton said he feels more comfortable in Paris after each year. Shelton made it to the final of the Rolex Paris Masters but could not cross the last hurdle against Carlos Alcaraz as he suffered a straight-sets loss.
The American had recently beaten the Spaniard in the US Open quarterfinal in a thrilling clash, but the latter came good in Paris.
However, Shelton defeated players like Cameron Norrie, Arthur Rinderknech and Tommy Paul en route to the final.
“It was a great run,” said Shelton. “I was happy with my level this week after some disappointment last week. I don’t think that I’ve been perfect on this indoor surface or played my very best tennis yet in my career, but I feel more and more comfortable each year playing on this surface.”
The lefty said he likes to have a bouncy serve, but it is not supported well on the indoor hard courts.
“I’m somebody who likes to make the ball jump out of the zone, kick serves, heavy forehands, changing pace,” Shelton said. “Those serves, they don’t jump as high on this surface, they’re not as effective, so I don’t use them as much,” Shelton said on the surface. “And the same with my forehand. I think that against a lot of guys, as a lefty, same as Rafa, the plan from the baseline is to hit heavy balls to the guy’s backhand and make them feel uncomfortable.
“But on a court that’s this fast, it’s really difficult to do that and make the ball jump out of the zone. You have to adapt. You have to play a slightly different game style. For me, that’s why I had success here. I was able to make those adjustments and play a game style that is more effective on this surface.”
This was Shelton’s first final at the Paris Masters.
