Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters after overcoming Arthur Rinderknech in a tight three-set battle, winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the third round. The victory not only set up an all-American quarter-final clash against Tommy Paul, but it also marked a significant milestone in the American player’s career.
A New Personal Milestone
By defeating Rinderknech, the world number four pushed his match wins tally for 2026 to 43, surpassing his previous personal best from the 2025 season. This achievement comes despite a challenging stretch earlier in the year where he failed to secure a single win at six different tournaments.
Shelton holds a 43-18 record so far this year, which includes a title at the Dallas Open and a runner-up finish at the US Open. Depending on his results at the remaining events, the American could potentially finish the season with up to 51 victories if he captures the Paris Masters trophy and goes undefeated at the upcoming ATP Finals.
Head-to-Head Against Tommy Paul
Standing in Shelton’s way of a semi-final spot is compatriot Tommy Paul, with whom he shares a 2-2 head-to-head record. Their previous encounters include a quarter-final at the 2023 Australian Open and a fourth-round meeting at the 2023 US Open, though the two have not played each other in 999 days since February 2024.
While Shelton enters the match as the higher-ranked player and has already secured his qualification for the ATP Finals in Turin, Paul brings added motivation to the court as he chases a late qualification spot that requires him to reach the Paris Masters final.
The winner of the quarter-final match on Friday, November 6, will advance to the semi-finals to face either Rinky Hijikata, Lorenzo Musetti, or Luca Van Assche.
