Jannik Sinner secured a straightforward victory in his match against Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters. The World No. 2 virtually gave no chances on his serve, and thanks to good return games, he ended up closing the win easily 6-3, 6-3.
The 4-time Grand Slam champion extends his superiority over Shelton to 7-1 in the H2H, taking the victory in their last seven consecutive encounters, including three times in 2025.
Sinner clinches double break to shut down Shelton's first set hopes
In the first set, the differences became evident just a few minutes into the match. Following the first service game of each player, the first break opportunities came for Sinner, against a Shelton who was struggling to land his first serves. Although the American saved the moment, the break came for Sinner in his next service game and gave him the advantage up to 4-2.
The Italian did not hesitate with his serve – winning his last two service games without conceding a point, while Shelton succumbed to the pressure at 3-5, and Sinner took the set with a double break 6-3. The Italian had won a remarkable 94% of service points against a poor 52% for Shelton.
Shelton recovers early break before Sinner takes control
At the start of the second set, Sinner showed signs of reducing his first serve percentage, but had no trouble taking a couple of service games forward by alternating second serves. That is how the break came in the 4th game in favor of the Italian, who took the lead and was quickly heading for the victory.
However, Shelton's response came, as he immediately broke back to love, and managed to get back on track by leveling the score from 1-3 to 3-3. Unfortunately for the American, it was not enough to mount a comeback. Sinner took control late in the match, winning 12 of the next 16 points before closing the victory 6-3, 6-3.
Match Statistics Shelton vs. Sinner
| Shelton | VS | Sinner |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 7 | Aces | 4 |
| 5 | Double Faults | 0 |
| 67% (34/51) | 1st Service Percentage | 75% (30/40) |
| 68% (23/34) | 1st Service Points Won | 80% (24/30) |
| 29% (5/17) | 2nd Service Points Won | 80% (8/10) |
| 50% (4/8) | Break Points Saved | 0% (0/1) |
| 56% (5/9) | Service Games | 89% (8/9) |
| Return | ||
| 20% (6/30) | 1st Return Points Won | 32% (11/34) |
| 20% (2/10) | 2nd Return Points Won | 71% (12/17) |
| Other | ||
| 1h 10m | Match Duration | 1h 10m |
Sinner reaches last four in Paris for first time
Sinner advances to the semi-finals of the Paris Masters for the first time in his career, marking his 13th appearance in a Masters 1000 semi-final. This year, in three previous participations, he reached the final at the Rome Open and Cincinnati, but in both, he ended up falling to Carlos Alcaraz.
This time, without the Spaniard in the draw, it seems like Sinner's golden opportunity to secure his 5th title of the season and arrive at the ATP Finals – his last commitment of the year – in top form. Sinner awaits to find out his opponent from the winner between Alexander Zverev (3rd) and Daniil Medvedev (11th).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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