Shelton and Paul set up all-American Paris quarterfinal clash

Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul each cut through tie-break tension on Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters to set an intriguing all-American quarterfinal clash.

The third-seeded Shelton edged home favorite Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) to reach the last eight for the second consecutive year at the indoor hard-court ATP Masters 1000 event.

Meanwhile Paul, who took on another Frenchman in Quentin Halys with the knowledge that defeat would end his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes, ground out a 7-6(3), 6-4 third-round victory.

Good friends Shelton and Paul will now contest their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash since 2024 on Friday at Plenitude Arena.

Both players will be chasing their first Paris semifinal appearance.

Paul, who is 13th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, will also be looking to further strengthen his chances of completing a late surge toward a Nitto ATP Finals debut.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been on the court, but I’m looking forward to it,” Shelton said of taking on Paul.

“He’s in great form right now.

A great player, a great friend.

I’ve been rooting for him all year to make a push and make it to Turin.

It will be fireworks tomorrow.”

The 24-year-old Shelton, who has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, won five of the final six points from 2/4 to clinch the deciding-set tie-break against Rinderknech.

It was the 43rd tour-level victory of the season for the American lefty, setting a new personal-best win tally for a single season following his 42 wins in 2024.

Although Paul remains four spots out of the qualification cut for Turin, the 29-year-old now trails ninth-placed Rafael Jodar by just 309 points in the Live Race.

Both he and 11th-placed Taylor Fritz, who is also still competing in the French capital, have the chance to catch Jodar and eighth-placed Frances Tiafoe, both of whom have exited the Paris draw.

The other quarterfinal in the top half of the draw will be between Rinky Hijikata and Luca Van Assche.

Hijikata backed up his second-round upset of Novak Djokovic by rallying past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The Australian is now into the last eight at a Masters 1000 event.

Only two spots remain at the ATP Finals for four players heading into Friday.

Six players have already booked their trips: Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils.

Jannik Sinner is out injured, so the ninth spot in the Live Race is effectively the last ticket.

Fritz is 11th in the Live Race.

He qualifies for Turin if he reaches the semifinals, unless Paul reaches the final.

If the two Americans meet in the final, Fritz qualifies regardless of the result.

Paul has the hardest road.

He has to reach the final, and he cannot lose to Fritz when he gets there.

Tiafoe, currently eighth, is through in every scenario except one: Paul beating Fritz in the final.

Jodar, the 20-year-old Spaniard, sits ninth and needs a lot to go his way.

Fritz must lose before the semifinals, and Paul must lose before the final.

Fritz moved a step closer with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Fils in the Round of 16.

Fils had already clinched his ATP Finals spot a day earlier, but Fritz had no such luxury and played like it.

He dropped few points on serve, racing through a 28-minute opening set by using the full width of the court and keeping rallies short, at just 2.9 shots per point.

Fils saved two break points in the opening game of the second set and answered with a fist pump toward the crowd.

Fritz’s consistent returning blunted Fils’ rhythm, and he broke for the second time in the third game of the second set.

The French crowd fell silent on the final point.

Up next for Fritz is Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, a far taller task.