Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-3 in the Paris Masters quarterfinals, advancing to face defending champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
Sinner entered the match needing a win to stay in contention for the world number one spot, especially after Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit. He dominated Shelton from the start, landing his first shot on target in the opening minute and wrapping up the first set in just 34 minutes. The Italian broke Shelton twice and maintained control throughout the match.
Shelton briefly rallied in the second set, breaking Sinner to love and leveling the score. However, Sinner responded with another break and sealed the win with a deft net shot on match point. This victory marked his 24th consecutive win on indoor hard courts and his seventh straight triumph over Shelton.
Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is chasing his fifth title of the season after winning the Vienna Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and China Open. He will overtake Alcaraz in the ATP rankings if he wins the Paris Masters title.
Meanwhile, Zverev survived a tense battle against Daniil Medvedev. After losing the first set 2-6, Zverev fought back to take the second 6-3. In the third, Medvedev led 5-4 and had two match points, but Zverev held firm. He carried that momentum into the tie-break and clinched victory when Medvedev fired long.
Sinner and Zverev will meet in the semifinals on Saturday. Sinner has won their last three encounters and looks poised to continue his impressive run.
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