Jannik Sinner demonstrated his prowess and determination by overcoming American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters, winning with a score of 6-3, 6-3. This victory is significant for Sinner as he continues his quest to reclaim the top position in the ATP rankings. Despite appearing somewhat fatigued during the match, Sinner fought through the challenges and secured his spot in the semi-finals, marking the first time he has advanced this far in Paris. He is set to face Alexander Zverev, who triumphed over Daniil Medvedev in a tightly contested match that concluded with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
Sinner’s path is made even more enticing following Carlos Alcaraz’s unexpected loss to Britain’s Cameron Norrie. This twist opens the door for Sinner to ascend to the world No. 1 ranking heading into the ATP Finals, scheduled to take place in Turin from November 9 to November 16. Reflecting on his journey, Sinner remarked, “I’m not thinking about the ranking. It’s all a consequence of how I’m playing.” He emphasized a day-by-day approach to the tournament, highlighting that each match presents its own set of challenges. “Today was a tough one, so I’m happy to come through,” he added.
In the match, Sinner showcased remarkable skill as he repeatedly bent low to retrieve powerful shots from Shelton. His tactical prowess was evident when he managed to break Shelton’s serve in the fifth game, employing exquisite ball-striking. Sinner swiftly secured the first set in just 34 minutes and maintained his dominance by breaking early in the second set. Although Shelton rallied and broke back to level the score at 3-3, Sinner quickly regained his momentum, winning the next three games to seal the victory and his place in the semi-finals.
“I’m very happy. It was a tough match,” Sinner expressed. He acknowledged the difficulty of handling Shelton’s formidable serving but praised his own performance, noting, “I returned well and from the back of the court I was solid, and also very aggressive, so I’m very happy about the match.” Looking ahead, he anticipates another demanding contest and reflects, “Tomorrow will be a physical match, so let’s see how I feel.”
On the other side of the draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime continued his impressive run by eliminating Valentin Vacherot, who had been on a ten-match winning streak in Masters tournaments. Auger-Aliassime won decisively with a score of 6-2, 6-2, proving too formidable for the Monegasque player. This victory advances Auger-Aliassime to his fourth Masters semi-final. He has had a standout season, reaching ten tour-level semi-finals, culminating in victories in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels. He is now keen on securing a final spot to enhance his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
Auger-Aliassime will face Alexander Bublik in Saturday’s first semi-final after Bublik pulled off a comeback against Australia’s Alex de Minaur, winning 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-5. The match promises to be an exciting clash, as both players look to secure a position in the finals and further their aspirations for the end-of-season championship.
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