By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, November 6, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Friendly fireworks erupted in today’s all-American quarterfinal clash in Paris.
Ben Shelton brought fire and finesse, subduing Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and bursting into his third career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.
It’s a milestone moment: Shelton is the first American to reach the final four in Paris since John Isner and Jack Sock reached the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters semifinals.
Two-time Canadian Open champion Shelton denied Paul his 50th win of the season and knocked his Davis Cup teammate out of contention for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
The left-handed Shelton served 82 percent, drilled 19 aces against only one double fault, which came when he served for the match.
“I thought the first set was definitely a serving contest. I got a little lucky when I broke him in the first set,” said Shelton, who is 18-2 vs. Americans since July of 2025. “He double faulted twice. I hit a slap winner return on break point.
“I knew the second set was going to be a real test and obviously getting down a break early—he’s such a good front runner.
“So to be able to reset the first hold was huge I needed that scoreboard pressure to get out in front. I was happy with the way I got the break, played offensive tennis. And I served it out really well in the end.”
In an entertaining encounter, Big Ben delivered a Turin ticket for buddy Big Foe. Shelton’s victory knocked Paul out of ATP Finals contention and sealed Frances Tiafoe’s first trip to Turin. Tiafoe’s father was in the crowd watching Shelton beat Paul and may well be on hand to see his son’s debut at the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals. Wimbledon winner Jannik Sinner pulled out of Turin recovering from a knee injury. This month, Shelton and Tiafoe will give the U.S. two of the elite eight in Turin, and Taylor Fritz still has a shot to qualify.
“I mean Frances has had an outstanding year, one of my best friends to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing,” Shelton said after beating Paul for the third time in five meetings. “I think that it’s such a cool milestone that not many get to in their career.
“So I’m super happy for him. Obviously, we have had a lot of Americans competing for that spot here. It’s been a big year for all of us and it’s cool we’re all in the mix. I’m super happy for him.”
World No. 4 Shelton will play either 22-year-old Frenchman Luca Van Assche or Aussie qualifier Rinky Hijikata for a spot in Sunday’s final.
This was a high-octane match of superb serving and sharp running shot-making from both men. Shelton’s serve was the biggest shot on the court, but he masterfully mixed his spins—on serve and using his slice backhand and some devious drop volleys on pivotal points. Shelton was 10 of 11 at net—including a slick backhand drop volley down 15-30 when serving for the match—and Paul was eight of 10 at net.
Puncturing pressure, Shelton stamped a decisive hold for a 5-4 lead shifting pressure squarely back on Paul’s shoulders.
To that point, Paul had been nearly flawless on serve, but he hit himself into trouble in the 10th game. Paul double faulted wide to face a set point.
Throwing down a 136 mph serve winner wide, Paul saved set point only to spit up a second straight double fault on the deuce court to fae a second set point.
Sitting on the wide serve, Shelton flashed a forehand return strike down the line, breaking to snatch a one-set lead with a bang and a shout.
Shelton served 75 percent, dropped only one point on second serve and tore through 12 of his last 14 serve points in the 36-minute opener.
Though Paul won 15 of 17 first-serve points and was in a fine serving rhythm at the start, scoreboard pressure saw Paul spit up both of his double faults on the deuce side in the last game of the set.
Resetting, Paul rattled out a series of errors from the US Open finalist to start the second set with the break.
The 12th seed confirmed the break at 15 for a 2-0 lead.
Shelton unloaded one of his fastest serves of the tournament—a 142 mph rocket—reasserting his serve as the set progressed. Paul pumped the wide serve working through a deuce hold for 5-3.
A confident Paul calmly closed the second set at 15 to force a decider after 72 minutes. Serving with variation and pounding the T serve with accuracy, Paul won 16 of 19 first-serve points in the second set. Across the net, Shelton had regained his groove. The left-hander served 83 percent and hammered eight aces in the set.
Facing break point in his first serve game of the final set, Paul showed crazy cool athleticism with some fantastic forehand digs to extend the point before unleashing a two-hander crosscourt. That electric exchange—one of the best points of the tournament—left both men smiling and sparked Paul, who pounded down an ace holding for 1-All.
Two games later, Shelton was still swinging freely and Paul was sometimes forced to counter off his back foot. Paul curled a crosscourt forehand long to face two more break points.
Stepping into the court, Shelton slashed a diagonal forehand that caught the very edge of the sideline to crack the break for 3-1. Paul dropped to a squat and watched the replay of Shelton’s seismic strike on the big screen.
A focused Shelton served 88 percent, won 19 of 22 first-serve points and pumped 8 of his 19 aces in that final set.
Still, closure came with one final test. Shelton double faulted to fall into a 15-30 hole.
The US Open finalist resolve to “get to the net” and did exactly that, navigating an assertive point then carving that soft backhand drop volley for 30-all. Shelton scalded a serve into the right hip for match point.
When Paul’s final forehand fell wide, Shelton was into his third ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in one hour, 45 minutes.
Before the semifinals, Shelton still had some work today: He hit the practice court with father and coach Bryan Shelton.
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