US Open finalist Ben Shelton battled past Arthur Rinderknech to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters for the second consecutive year. The third seed will face compatriot Tommy Paul in an all-American clash for a place in the semi-finals.
Shelton, the world No. 4, found himself in trouble against the home favourite after conceding the opening set. However, the American refused to be subdued, eventually prevailing 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 inside the Plenitude Arena. Shelton will take on his good friend Paul for the first time since 2024. It will be their fifth career meeting, with the head-to-head record level at 2-2.“It's been a long time since we've been on the court, but I'm looking forward to it,” Shelton said. “He's in great form right now. A great player, a great friend.”
Paul booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Quentin Halys in the third round, keeping alive his outside hopes of claiming one of the two remaining spots at the ATP Finals. “I've been rooting for him all year to make a push and make it to Turin,” said Shelton, who is among the six players already qualified for the season-ending tournament. “It will be fireworks tomorrow.”
Earlier, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their third-round match due to an arm injury. The second seed, who overcame Alex Michelsen in his opening match in Paris, will now face Taylor Fritz in the last eight of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Alcaraz is chasing his fifth title of the season in Paris, having already won the Australian Open, Qatar Open, Japan Open and last week's Vienna Open.
The Spaniard, who missed more than four months with a wrist injury, has already secured his place at the ATP Finals in Turin. He takes a 39-5 win-loss record this season into the quarter-finals.