Ben Shelton Paris Masters quarter-final: the American star fought back from a set down to beat France's Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in Paris on Thursday, sealing a season-best 43rd win of 2026.
The world No. 4 lost the opening set in front of a roaring home crowd before breaking back in the second and holding his nerve in a deciding tie-break, winning it seven points to five. Shelton said it was the first week since the US Open in September that he has felt ready to compete at 100 per cent.
Next up is an all-American quarter-final against Tommy Paul on Friday. Paul, the 12th seed, beat Quentin Halys 7-6 (3), 6-4 earlier on Thursday. It will be the pair's fifth meeting, with the head-to-head locked at 2-2, and their first since Paul won in Dallas in 2024. Shelton has already booked his place at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, but Paul needs a run to the Paris final to keep his own hopes alive.
It has been a strong week for American tennis. Taylor Fritz also powered through, beating France's Arthur Fils in straight sets to keep his Turin hopes alive, while top seed Carlos Alcaraz advanced after Matteo Berrettini withdrew with an arm injury. Shelton, the US Open runner-up, is chasing a fifth title of the year, and a first American winner in Paris since Jack Sock in 2017 is now firmly in sight.
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