Ben Shelton matches Jannik Sinner’s record by reaching Paris final

Ben Shelton showed impressive grit to beat Luca Van Assche in three sets and secure his place in the final of the Paris Masters. After losing the first set 7-5, the American bounced back with determination, winning the next two sets 6-3 and 6-4 to continue his remarkable campaign in 2026.

With this victory, Shelton now awaits the winner of the other semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, as he moves closer to the possibility of winning the Paris Masters for the first time in his career. The result marks Shelton’s sixth final on the ATP Tour this year, equalling a record previously set by Jannik Sinner.

This year, Shelton has already reached finals at other important tournaments, including the US Open, the Canadian Open, the Stuttgart Open, the Munich Open and the Dallas Open. Sinner, for his part, has played in finals in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Wimbledon, also standing out as one of the best players of the season.

After the match, Shelton spoke about his performance and the significance of his first final at the Paris Masters. “I thought Luca was playing really well. He was really consistent and good on the move, and I started to force my strikes. I made a significant number of unforced errors in the first set and needed to cut those out,” said Shelton. He stressed the importance of adapting to the rhythm of the match, saying: “I started returning better, I was getting into his serves, and I got better as the match went on.”

Shelton also referred to the pressure felt at decisive moments: “It’s tough here, the players are very good. When you see the finish line, it’s not easy to close out the match. I experienced exactly that yesterday against Tommy, getting broken in the first game of the second set after winning the first.”

The current world number four highlighted his competitiveness as one of the best aspects of his game, acknowledging that even in difficult moments he is able to stay in the fight: “If I can be brave and keep holding my serve until I find a small opportunity, I like my chances. But there is still a lot to work on.”

After the Paris Masters, Shelton will travel to the ATP Finals in Turin, which begin on 15 November, where he will have the chance to shine even more in his successful season.