Ben Shelton has hit another big milestone in 2025, as he booked his place in the ATP Finals after booking his place in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters. The American booked his place in the last eight after bagging a 7-6(6), 6-3 win over 12th seed Andrey Rublev.
Ben Shelton’s Victory Over Andrey Rublev Secures ATP Finals Spot
Shelton beat Rublev 7-6(6), 6-3 in the third round of the Rolex Paris Masters after playing an excellent match from start to finish. He won the first set in a tiebreaker and then dominated the second set to close out the win. This victory saw him qualify for the ATP Finals, something he had never achieved before.
Before facing Rublev, Shelton had defeated Flavio Cobolli 7-6(4), 6-3 in his opening match Paris. Now at World No. 7, Shelton joins fellow American Taylor Fritz at the season finale in Turin. This marks the first time two American men have qualified for the ATP Finals since 2006 when James Blake and Andy Roddick competed in the event. Blake went on to reach the final that year, losing to Roger Federer.
ON HIS WAY TO TURIN!
Ben Shelton plays a flawless match to beat Andrey Rublev 7-6(6), 6-3 and reach the QFs in Paris.
He is qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time in his career! pic.twitter.com/TPgG40tidR
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 30, 2025
The ATP Finals showcases the world’s top eight players competing for the year-end title, and Shelton has now earned his place among this elite group.
Shelton’s Breakout Year and Return From Injury
It has been a special 2025 for Shelton. He made the semifinals at the Australian Open, where he faced top-ranked Jannik Sinner. This was his second Grand Slam semifinal appearance overall. Before Paris, Shelton won the biggest title of his career at the Canadian Open in Toronto in August.
He beat Karen Khachanov 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) in the final when he was just 22 years old. This made him the youngest American to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Andy Roddick won in Miami in 2004. His Toronto victory pushed him to a career-high ranking of World No. 6.
Despite this success, the year also brought tough moments. At the US Open in late August, Shelton had to retire during his third-round match against Adrian Mannarino due to a shoulder injury. After his US Open exit, many wondered if he could recover and get back to his winning ways. Shelton bounced back and showed his character by working hard to return to form over the next months.
His run at Paris Masters where he reached the quarterfinals proves he has fully recovered from the injury. Now he will face either Sinner or Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
MORE: Taylor Fritz Reacts After Punching Ticket to ATP Finals As Ben Shelton Trails Amid Intensifying Race
