A Hard-Fought Win and a Career Milestone
Ben Shelton needed every bit of his fighting spirit on Thursday in Paris, eventually outlasting home favourite Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in a match that swung back and forth before Shelton seized it in a tiebreak. The victory gave Shelton his 43rd win of the season, the best single-season haul of his career so far. Coming into the week already confirmed for the ATP Finals in Turin, the US Open runner-up is building serious momentum heading into the final stretch of 2026.
Shelton will now face No. 12 seed Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals, completing an all-American showdown at the Rolex Paris Masters. The two players have split their four previous meetings down the middle, two wins apiece, and have not shared a court since 2024. Shelton was openly enthusiastic about the reunion, calling Paul "in great form" and describing him as both a great player and a close friend.
Americans Dominate the Draw in Paris
It was a strong day overall for United States players in the French capital. Eleventh seed Taylor Fritz swept aside sixth seed Arthur Fils 6-3, 6-4, keeping his slim hopes alive of claiming one of the two remaining spots for the ATP Finals, which runs November 15 to 22 in Turin, Italy. Paul also remained in contention for Turin after earlier defeating Quentin Halys 7-6 (3), 6-4, and Shelton has been openly cheering for his compatriot to make the cut. "I've been rooting for him all year to make a push," Shelton said of Paul's Turin bid.
TennisDraw users had Shelton penciled deep into the Paris bracket, and Thursday's gritty performance showed exactly why.
