Alcaraz Rests, Recovers and Recharges Ahead of Shelton Showdown in Paris
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will face American Ben Shelton on Sunday at Roland Garros in a much-anticipated Round 4 clash (Alcaraz vs Shelton / Shelton vs Alcaraz). After a late finish to his third-round match, which stretched over three hours against Damir Dzumhur, the Spaniard wrapped up his media duties around 3:00 a.m., then returned to his Paris hotel for dinner and recovery treatment with his physio, Juanjo Moreno.
Given the physical toll and late-night schedule, Team Alcaraz opted to skip practice on Saturday. Instead, the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings focused on rest and light recovery work. He started his day late and eased into a gym session with Moreno and fitness coach Alberto Lledo, focusing on post-match rehabilitation.
Later, Alcaraz made time to explore more of Paris — a cherished routine that helps him mentally reset between matches. His walk this time took him to the scenic Pont Alexandre III, a favorite Parisian landmark. Previous visits included stops at the Palace of Versailles, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Parc Monceau. These strolls reflect his commitment to the concept of “Vitamin N” — the therapeutic benefits of nature, championed by his physio.
The evening brought a change of pace with the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, held in Munich. A known PSG supporter, Alcaraz was likely tuned in for the showdown, having spotted players like Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Désiré Doué at his matches earlier in the week. He also shared the stage with Ousmane Dembélé during the tournament’s official draw ceremony.
Now, with rest and recovery in the bank, Alcaraz turns his focus to Sunday’s test against Shelton, whom he leads 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series (Ben Shelton vs Alcaraz). “He’s a very aggressive player,” Alcaraz said. “He puts a lot of energy into his shots and into his matches. I think it’ll be interesting. We’ll try to improve the things I did worse [on Friday] and continue doing what’s working. The goal is not to let him control the match — we want to play our tennis.”
Alcaraz owns a 21-3 career record at Roland Garros, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He famously captured the title last year after a dramatic five-set win over Alexander Zverev in the final.
As eyes turn toward Sunday’s marquee match, fans are also closely following Iga Swiatek’s dominant run through the women’s draw. Swiatek, a multiple-time champion in Paris, continues to cement her legacy on the clay — making this edition of Roland Garros an unmissable one for tennis fans.
