Sinner Dominates Shelton, Advances to Paris Masters Semifinals with World No. 1 Ranking in Sight
PARIS - Jannik Sinner secured his seventh victory in eight career matches against ben Shelton on October 31, 2025, propelling him into the semifinals of the Rolex Paris Masters. The win marks Sinner’s eighth semi-final appearance in nine Masters 1000 tournaments this year – the most prestigious events on the men’s tennis circuit outside of the Grand Slams.
This commanding performance in Paris places Sinner on the cusp of history. A title on sunday would see him overtake Carlos Alcaraz for the world No. 1 ranking, a position he relinquished in early September following his loss to the Spaniard at the US Open final. Sinner’s consistent success at the Masters 1000 level, with only the Madrid tournament remaining unconquered in his collection (his best result there being a quarter-final), underscores his rise as a dominant force in men’s tennis.
The match saw Sinner largely in control,despite brief resistance from Shelton who briefly leveled the second set from a 3-1 deficit to 3-3. Sinner initially displayed signs of fatigue, reminiscent of his round of 16 match, collapsing after a lengthy rally and requiring back massage. Notably,this marks the first time an Italian player has reached the semi-final stage of the Paris Masters since the tournament’s inception in 1986.
