Ben Shelton booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters after coming from a set down to beat home favourite Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday. 

Shelton sealed a date with compatriot Tommy Paul in the last eight with a 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) win in just over two hours, but the American did not have it all his own way. 

The third seed found himself behind in the sixth game of the first set when Rinderknech converted his first break point, and that was all he needed to edge himself in front. 

Both players traded blows in a pulsating second set, but just as a tie-break loomed, Shelton got the better of his opponent's serve to ensure the match went the distance. 

Rinderknech missed two break opportunities in the decider, and that came back to bite him as Shelton's turnaround was completed in the tie-break, and he is relishing a clash against good friend Paul for a spot in the semi-finals. 

"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."

Ben just keeps on building 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) Rinderknech launches @BenShelton into the Elite 8 @RolexPMasters | #RolexParisMasters https://t.co/Av8yydxpwp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 5, 2026

Paul's progression to the next round was confirmed earlier in the day, with the 12th seed overcoming Quentin Halys with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory. 

Carlos Alcaraz is also through to the quarter-finals in the French capital after Matteo Berrettini withdrew from their third-round clash with an injury. 

And the seven-time grand slam winner will face Taylor Fritz after his 6-3 6-4 triumph over sixth seed Arthur Fils. 

Shelton hits new heights as Alcaraz hits 40 wins again

Jack Sock in 2017 was the last American player to win the Paris Masters, but Shelton will fancy his chances of ending that wait after putting together another hard-fought win. 

Shelton claimed his 43rd match win at ATP level in 2026, surpassing 2024 (42) for his most in a single season, while he is the first left-handed player to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters in consecutive years since the great Rafael Nadal in 2019-20.  

And though it was not the way he would have liked to win, Berrettini's withdrawal saw Alcaraz, aged 23 years 181 days at the start of the tournament, become the youngest player to achieve 5+ consecutive 40-win seasons at ATP level since Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in 2010

It is also the Spaniard's 21st career ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in ATP-1000 events. Since the format's introduction in 1990 only Nadal, Djokovic, Pete Sampras and Murray have reached more before the age of 24.