Ben Shelton recovered from a set down against France’s Luca Van Assche to reach his first Paris Masters final. The American won 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 after trailing by a break in the deciding set. His comeback ended the home player’s run and brought Shelton a sixth final of the season.
Van Assche saved an early break point when Shelton led 2-1. At 5-5, the Frenchman took his third break opportunity before serving out a 7-5 set in 55 minutes. Shelton had made 14 unforced errors in that set. His opponent, aged 22, was playing his first Masters 1000 semifinal.[1]
Shelton broke at 3-2 in the second set with a forehand winner. Van Assche collected only three points on the American’s serve during that set. A 6-3 score brought Shelton level and sent the match into a deciding set.[1]
Van Assche led 3-1 in the decider but immediately lost serve with a double fault. Shelton then won five of the last six games for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory. He reached his sixth final of the season and became the first American Paris finalist since the 2017 champion, Jack Sock.[1]
