Carlos Alcaraz displayed remarkable sportsmanship during his fourth-round French Open victory over Ben Shelton, conceding a point after admitting to a rule infraction. In a rare moment of self-policing in professional tennis, the defending champion told the chair umpire he had broken the rules by allowing his racket to make contact with the ball without holding it, overturning what had initially been awarded as his point.
The incident occurred early in the second set when Shelton blasted a passing shot far beyond Alcaraz’s reach. Alcaraz instinctively flung his racket in the direction of the ball, and by sheer luck, the strings made contact and returned it over the net. The point was initially awarded to Alcaraz, but the Spaniard promptly approached the umpire and confessed he wasn’t holding the racket at the time of contact an automatic violation under the rules. The point was rightly given to Shelton, and the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier applauded the gesture of honesty.
At the time, the decision appeared potentially costly. Instead of having game point at 40-30 on his serve, Alcaraz now faced break point at 30-40. Shelton had a total of six break points in that 20-point game, but Alcaraz saved them all, eventually going on to win the game and take a two-set lead. That determination and grit epitomized the match, which was far more competitive than the scoreline might suggest.
Alcaraz eventually triumphed 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a gripping match that showcased the power and shot-making abilities of both players. Shelton, the 13th seed and already a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, was a formidable opponent. He launched serves up to 143 mph and blistered forehands that clocked 116 mph, often putting Alcaraz on the defensive. Yet, the Spaniard, already a four-time Grand Slam champion, responded with his own mix of baseline power, crafty drop shots, and brilliant defensive play.
“We entertained the people,” said Alcaraz after the match. “He is a really powerful player. He can make any shot. I think we played really great tennis drops, coming to the net, big shots, and we stayed there in the whole match.” Alcaraz also praised Shelton’s charisma and playing style, calling him a positive force for the sport and someone he enjoys watching.
The first set was tightly contested and decided in a tiebreak, where Alcaraz ultimately converted his second set point with a fierce down-the-line forehand that forced an error from Shelton. The American roared back in the third set, clinching it with a powerful forehand winner and a roar of celebration. But Alcaraz regained control in the fourth, using a cleverly executed drop shot to break Shelton early and maintain the advantage until the end, closing the match after three hours and 19 minutes.
With the win, Alcaraz notched his 11th consecutive victory at Roland-Garros and booked a quarter-final meeting with another American, Tommy Paul, who earlier defeated Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. Paul became the first American man to reach the French Open quarter-finals since Andre Agassi in 2003. His achievement was soon matched by Frances Tiafoe, who also advanced after a straight-sets win over Daniel Altmaier.
The presence of multiple American men in the final eight marks a historic moment for U.S. tennis, signaling a resurgence on clay. But it was Alcaraz’s blend of integrity, tenacity, and flair that ultimately stole the spotlight on Sunday.
