Paris (France) (AFP) - World number four, Ben Shelton, qualified for his first semifinal at the Paris Masters 1000 after winning a 100% American duel against Tommy Paul (14th) this Friday by 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3.

First modification: 06/11/2026 - 16:29

Shelton, 24, will play against Frenchman Lucas Van Assche or Australian Rinky Hijikata in the third semifinal of a Masters 1000 tournament of his career.

With his defeat, Paul was definitively eliminated from the fight for the Masters (November 15-22 in Turin), an end-of-season competition for which his compatriot Frances Tiafoe has already qualified.

There is one ticket left to be awarded for the event in Italy, between the Spanish Rafael Jódar, who would currently qualify, and the American Taylor Fritz, who will snatch it if he beats Carlos Alcaraz this Friday in Paris.

Shelton, a finalist at the 2026 US Open, emerged the winner of a server duel with few exchanges. He needed a break for each set won: the first, in the last game, he took on his second chance thanks to a parallel forehand winner.

In the third set, he got the break at 2-1 in his favor, with another forehand winner that touched the line.

The left-hander, author of 19 aces, later maintained his serve, hesitating only at the moment of closing, as he was 30-15 down with his serve before chaining three winning points.

© 2026 AFP

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