Ben Shelton secured a comeback victory against Arthur Rinderknech at the Paris Masters on Thursday, overcoming a one-set deficit to advance in the tournament. After dropping the opening set 3-6, the American rallied to win the second 6-4 and eventually clinched the match in a final-set tiebreak, 7-6(5).
Disagreement Over Court Speed
Following his third-round win at the Plenitude Arena, Shelton addressed claims that the Paris Masters features the fastest courts on the ATP Tour. When asked by an ATP spokesperson how the reported extreme speed of the surface was affecting his game, Shelton pushed back against the premise.
“I don’t agree. I think Basel last week was faster,” Shelton stated. “I think Cincinnati was also faster, but that’s just me.”
Data from Tennis Abstract indicates that the 2025 Paris Masters surface had a speed rating of 0.94, placing it in the bottom half of all ATP Tour events. However, this assessment remains preliminary as official court speed data for the 2026 tournament has not yet been published.
Shelton noted that he typically prefers slower, high-bouncing hard courts but is adapting to the conditions in Paris. “I feel that my game has cleaned up so much that I’m able to extend points on the surface, handle pace a little bit better, return better, and I think that makes all the difference,” he explained.
Upcoming Match Against Tommy Paul
Shelton is set to face Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals. Paul is currently competing for a spot in the ATP Finals, as he entered the week 12th in the race. Following the early tournament exits of Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe, and Rafael Jodar, Paul now has a viable path to qualify for the season-ending event for the first time.
Reflecting on the upcoming matchup, Shelton acknowledged his opponent’s recent form, noting that Paul has reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set. “He’s in great form right now, great player, great friend,” Shelton said. “I’ve been rooting for him all year to make a push and make it to Turin. And I think it’ll be fireworks tomorrow.”
The two Americans currently hold a 2-2 head-to-head record on the ATP Tour. Paul won their most recent encounter in the 2024 Dallas Open semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
