ATP Tour

Shelton, Paul down home hopes, set high-stakes QF clash in Paris

Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul each cut through tie-break tension on Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters to set an intriguing all-American quarter-final clash.

The third-seeded Shelton edged home favourite Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) to reach the last eight for the second consecutive year at the indoor hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event. Meanwhile Paul, who took on another Frenchman in Quentin Halys with the knowledge that defeat would end his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes, ground out a 7-6(3), 6-4 third-round victory.

Good friends Shelton and Paul will now contest their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash since 2024 on Friday at Plenitude Arena. Both players will be chasing their first Paris semi-final appearance while Paul, who is 13th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, will also be looking to further strengthen his chances of completing a late surge towards a Nitto ATP Finals debut.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been on the court, but I’m looking forward to it,” Shelton said of taking on Paul. “He’s in great form right now. A great player, a great friend. I’ve been rooting for him all year to make a push and make it to Turin. It will be fireworks tomorrow.”

The 24-year-old Shelton, who has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, won five of the final six points from 2/4 to clinch the deciding-set tie-break against Rinderknech. It was the 43rd tour-level victory of the season for the American lefty, setting a new personal-best win tally for a single season following his 42 wins in 2024.

Although Paul remains four spots out of the qualification cut for Turin, the 29-year-old now trails ninth-placed Rafael Jodar by just 309 points in the Live Race. Both he and 11th-placed Taylor Fritz, who is also still competing in the French capital, have the chance to catch Jodar and eighth-placed Frances Tiafoe, both of whom have exited the Paris draw.