PARIS — In a thrilling all-American clash, Ben Shelton triumphed over Tommy Paul to secure his spot in the semifinals of the Paris Masters for the very first time on Friday.
Showcasing his powerful serve with 19 aces, Shelton claimed victory with scores of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 beneath the roof of Plenitude Arena, successfully converting two of his four break points. This marked his third win in five encounters against Paul.
With this match, the third-seeded Shelton dashed Paul’s dreams of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin later this month.
This victory paved the way for fellow American Frances Tiafoe, who secured his debut at the season-ending tournament.
“Frances has had an incredible year. He is one of my closest friends, and it’s fantastic to see him qualify for Turin for the first time,” Shelton expressed. “I’m beyond thrilled for him. We’ve had numerous Americans vying for that spot, and it’s been a monumental year for all of us, making it exciting to see everyone in contention.”
As the Finals approach, only one singles slot remains available. Those who have already qualified include top contenders Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Shelton himself, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, and Arthur Fils.
Taylor Fritz has the opportunity to join this elite group if he manages to defeat Alcaraz later on Friday. Conversely, if Fritz faces defeat, Rafael Jodar will step into the Finals.
Next up for Shelton is a matchup against local favorite Luca Van Assche, who recently endured a grueling three-hour battle to overcome qualifier Rinky Hijikata, winning 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5.
