Luca Van Assche’s run at the Rolex Paris Masters 2026 ended in the semifinals on Saturday, as the world No. 4 Ben Shelton defeated the French player 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 at the Plénitude Arena in Nanterre, France. The match, a first Masters 1000 semi for Van Assche, lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes.
The American, ranked fourth globally, ended the strong Parisian run of Van Assche, who entered the match as the last French player remaining in the tournament, according to Dicodusport. The victory propels Shelton into the final of the €6.3 million hard-court event.
Van Assche’s Historic Run Comes to an End
The 20-year-old, ranked 47th, became the last French representative in the singles draw. His journey included victories over 19th-seeded Learner Tien and 24th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti before his encounter with Shelton, Le Monde reported.
Thanks to his performance in the Parisian tournament, he is set to rise to 34th in the ATP rankings, making him the second-ranked French player behind Arthur Fils, Le Monde noted. This achievement comes just four months after his first ATP title in Estoril, Portugal.
Despite dropping the opening set, Ben Shelton got the better of Luca Van Assche to reach his first Rolex Paris Masters final ↘️ #RolexParisMasters https://t.co/lUzqPXqDl4
A Match of Momentum Shifts
Van Assche made an early impression, breaking Shelton in the 11th game of the first set to claim it 7-5, DHnet reported. Shelton, however, responded by breaking serve in the sixth game of the second set, which proved to be the decisive game as he took the set 6-3 to level the match.
After Van Assche built a 3-1 lead, Shelton broke back and won the next four games in a row. The American closed out the victory on his second match point, securing his place in the final, DHnet detailed.
Shelton’s Path to the Final
The 24-year-old American is coming off a season highlighted by his first Grand Slam final appearance at the US Open, where he lost to Alexander Zverev.
Shelton faced Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and had to win a deciding tiebreak to advance. His success in the tournament has come largely from winning difficult matches, according to Dicodusport.
Alcaraz advances to the final
In the other semifinal match, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz had a more straightforward path to the final. The Spanish player defeated Casper Ruud in 1 hour and 26 minutes with a score of 6-4, 6-4, Le Monde reported. Alcaraz’s victory came a day after he saved two match points against Taylor Fritz, showing his resilience as he prepares to face Shelton in the championship match.
The Rolex Paris Masters, one of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events, is being held at the Plénitude Arena in Nanterre La Défense, a venue on the outskirts of Paris. The tournament's prize fund of over €6.3 million shows it is one of the most important events on the ATP calendar outside of the Grand Slams.
The moment Ben Shelton knocked out Luca Van Assche to progress to the Paris Masters' final! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VQDRF39ccP
Answers about the Van Assche match
What was the final score of the Van Assche vs. Shelton match?
Ben Shelton defeated Luca Van Assche with a score of 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Rolex Paris Masters 2026.
How long did the match last?
The match lasted 2 hours and 16 minutes, as reported by DHnet.
What is Luca Van Assche’s new ranking?
Following his performance in Paris, Luca Van Assche will rise to a career-high ranking of 34th in the world, according to Le Monde.
Who will Ben Shelton face in the final?
Ben Shelton will face Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Rolex Paris Masters 2026.
Earlier coverage: Ben Shelton Beats Luca Van Assche to Reach París Masters Final
