Luca Van Assche Reaches First Masters 1000 Semifinal in Paris
French tennis player Luca Van Assche secured his first career Masters 1000 semifinal appearance, defeating Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-7 (7/4), 7-5 at the tournament in Paris. At 22 years old, the 47th-ranked Frenchman fought through a grueling two-hour and forty-five-minute quarterfinal battle. The win guarantees that Van Assche will break into the world’s top 40 rankings at No. 34, making him the second-highest-ranked French player on the ATP Tour. This milestone follows his first career singles title secured in July on the clay courts of Estoril at an ATP 250 event.
Overcoming Physical Fatigue Against Rinky Hijikata
The quarterfinal clash demanded immense physical endurance from both competitors. Van Assche entered the match following a demanding three-set victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the previous round. After losing early focus and allowing Hijikata—who previously eliminated Novak Djokovic in the second round—to build a 3-0 lead, Van Assche saved six break points before dropping the tiebreak 7-4. Regaining his composure in the decisive third set, Van Assche fired 13 total aces. He recovered an early break, capitalized on late unforced errors and a double fault from his opponent, and secured the victory with a backhand passing shot.
Upcoming Semifinal Matchup Against Ben Shelton
Van Assche will face American Ben Shelton in the next round for a place in the final. Shelton, the tournament’s No. 3 seed and world No. 4, advanced by defeating compatriot Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The upcoming semifinal presents a high-stakes test for the former junior world No. 1.
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