ATP Tour

Shelton reflects on Paris run: 'I feel more comfortable here each year'

Ben Shelton may have fallen short of a third ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday at the Rolex Paris Masters, but the American has plenty of reasons to leave the French capital encouraged after a run to the final.

Although Shelton was unable to prevent Carlos Alcaraz from claiming the trophy, the 24-year-old looked impressive for large periods in Paris, where he recorded victories against Tommy Paul, Arthur Rinderknech, Cameron Norrie and Luca Van Assche to reach his first final at the indoor hard-court event.

“It was a great run,” said Shelton. “I was happy with my level this week after some disappointment last week. I don't think that I've been perfect on this indoor surface or played my very best tennis yet in my career, but I feel more and more comfortable each year playing on this surface.”

That growing confidence was evident throughout the tournament. Shelton had won just one match across his first two appearances at the hard-court event before reaching the quarter-finals last year. This time, he went two steps further, adapting impressively to conditions that were the fastest seen in Paris for several years.

The American knows that his natural strengths do not always translate as effectively on quicker indoor courts, where his heavy forehand and kick serve can be less difficult for opponents to handle. Learning to adjust his approach has been key to his progress.

“I'm somebody who likes to make the ball jump out of the zone, kick serves, heavy forehands, changing pace," Shelton said. "Those serves, they don't jump as high on this surface, they're not as effective, so I don't use them as much,” Shelton said on the surface. “And the same with my forehand. I think that against a lot of guys, as a lefty, same as Rafa, the plan from the baseline is to hit heavy balls to the guy's backhand and make them feel uncomfortable.

“But on a court that's this fast, it's really difficult to do that and make the ball jump out of the zone. You have to adapt. You have to play a slightly different game style. For me, that's why I had success here. I was able to make those adjustments and play a game style that is more effective on this surface.”

Shelton's run in Paris adds to what has already been a career-best season. The American has captured four titles and earned 45 tour-level wins in 2026, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The No. 4 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will now turn his attention to the Nitto ATP Finals, where he will make his second appearance at the prestigious season-ending event from 15-22 November.

Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar will join Shelton in the elite eight-player field in Turin. Fans can sign up to ATP Unlocked for exclusive coverage in the Nitto ATP Finals Hub.