Jannik Sinner Dominates Ben Shelton, Advances to Paris Masters Semis

Jannik Sinner showcased an impressive display at the Rolex Paris Masters on Friday, defeating American Ben Shelton in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. This victory not only propels the Italian second seed into the semi-finals of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event but also reinforces his pursuit of reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking.

This match marked Sinner’s debut in the semi-finals of the Paris Masters, a noteworthy achievement in his career. Celebrating his 400th tour-level match, the 24-year-old extended his remarkable indoor winning streak to 24 matches, a run that commenced in November 2023. Sinner’s performance was characterized by his resilience in crucial moments, as he committed zero unforced errors from his two-handed backhand and only ten from his forehand.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

Throughout the match, Sinner’s aggression was evident, particularly in his return game. His extraordinary reflexes allowed him to neutralize Shelton’s powerful serves, seamlessly transitioning from defense to offense. The first set concluded in a swift 34 minutes, with Sinner seizing the set on his second set point after dodging a fierce body serve from Shelton, executing a backhand, and placing a winner into the open court.

The second set featured a brief setback for Sinner, who was broken to love at 3-1, with Shelton delivering a stunning banana-curling forehand passer to clinch the game. Nevertheless, Sinner quickly regrouped, breaking back and applying consistent pressure on his opponent. This victory was particularly meaningful for Sinner as it avenged his sole loss to Shelton two years prior in Shanghai. Since then, Sinner has now won seven consecutive matches against the 23-year-old American.

Overall, Sinner’s record against American players stands at 22-0, and he has yet to lose to a left-handed opponent in this timeframe.

Statements and Historic Achievements

Reflecting on his performance, Sinner remarked, “It was a very tough match. At times against Ben, you don’t have a lot of control because of his incredible serving, but today I felt like I was returning very well. Also from the back of the court, I played very solid and very aggressive, so I’m very happy about today’s match.”

With this victory, Sinner has etched his name in tennis history, becoming the first Italian man to reach 43 tour-level semi-finals, surpassing previous legends like Fabio Fognini and Adriano Panatta. Additionally, he is the first Italian to advance to the semi-finals of the Paris Masters, improving his record from just one win in his prior three appearances.

A victory in the upcoming final would secure Sinner’s fifth title of the season and his first ATP Masters 1000 title of 2025, potentially propelling him back to the World No. 1 position in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.