Shelton outwits hometown hope Van Assche to reach Paris Masters final

Paris: Top-ranked fourth player Ben Shelton overcame an early setback to defeat hometown favorite Luca Van Assche 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and advance to the Paris Masters final on Saturday. This marks Shelton's third ATP 1000 final of his career. The US Open semifinalist showcased his baseline prowess by converting two points, while Van Assche, currently ranked 47th, capitalized on a single break in the opening set to lead 6-5.

The crowd in support of Van Assche, who hailed from the city, was electrified, reverberating with drum beats and chants. However, Shelton's third seed status proved advantageous in the second set as he regained his focus after committing 17 unforced errors in the initial encounter. By forcing Van Assche into protracted rallies, Shelton managed to win four consecutive games, breaking Van Assche's 3-1 lead with a decisive 4-2 set score.

In the third set, Shelton faltered at the start, missing two forehands and serving double faults. Nevertheless, he regained the upper hand by winning the following four games as Van Assche grappled with multiple errors and mishit shots. At just 24 years old, Shelton becomes the first American to reach the Paris Masters final since Jack Sock in 2017.

Shelton aims to secure his third ATP 1000 title on Sunday, having triumphed at the Canadian Open twice before. Meanwhile, world number three Carlos Alcaraz faces off against Casper Ruud in the second semi-final on the same day.