Shelton and Paul knock out French hopes to set up all-American Paris QF

Two Frenchmen walked out at the Plenitude Arena on Thursday; two Americans walked off as winners. Third seed Ben Shelton came from a set down to beat Arthur Rinderknech 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), and Tommy Paul saw off Quentin Halys 7-6(3), 6-4, setting up an all-American quarter-final at the Rolex Paris Masters on Friday.

Shelton holds his nerve in the decider

Rinderknech, backed by a loud home crowd, took the opening set and pushed Shelton all the way to a final-set tie-break. At 2/4 in that tie-break the Frenchman was within touching distance of the quarter-finals, but Shelton won five of the last six points to close out the match in just over two hours.

The win is Shelton's 43rd tour-level victory of 2026, a new personal best for a season after the 42 he recorded in 2024, according to the ATP. The left-hander, already qualified for the ATP Finals in Turin, said this is the first week since the US Open that he has felt fully fit.

"Yeah, I think everyone is probably cooked. For me, after the US Open I was really cooked, going to Davis Cup and then China for Shanghai," Shelton said. "This is kind of the first week since the US Open that I've really felt 100 per cent ready to compete, and I'm super excited to be here."

Paul keeps his Turin dream alive

Earlier, Paul ended the run of Halys, who had saved four match points against Frances Tiafoe in the previous round. The 29-year-old American edged a tight first-set tie-break 7-3 and then closed out the second set 6-4.

For Paul, the stakes go beyond a place in the last eight. He arrived in Paris 13th in the Live Race to Turin and, per the ATP, sits 309 points behind ninth place. With Tiafoe and Rafael Jódar both already out of the tournament, Paul and Taylor Fritz are the players still in a position to chase them down, but Paul will need to keep winning to have any chance.

Friends on opposite sides of the net

Friday's quarter-final will be the first meeting between Shelton and Paul since 2024. Shelton was warm in his praise of his compatriot before the match.

ATPAlcaraz saves two match points vs Fritz and sends Jódar to Turin

"It's been a long time since we've been on the court, but I'm looking forward to it. 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," Shelton said. "It will be fireworks tomorrow."

The result also leaves the French contingent thinning out in Nanterre. Rinderknech and Halys had both produced memorable wins earlier in the week, but the home focus now shifts to Arthur Fils, who meets Taylor Fritz on Thursday evening for a quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, and to Luca Van Assche, who faces Lorenzo Musetti for a place against qualifier Rinky Hijikata.

Shelton versus Paul, meanwhile, carries the clearest Turin consequence of the round: a Paul win keeps his ATP Finals chase alive into the weekend, while a defeat would end it.