Despite a big fight, Arthur Rinderknech lost in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Paris against Ben Shelton

He was not unworthy, but the step was too high. Arthur Rinderknech lost, Thursday, November 5, in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Paris, against the American, 4th in the world, Ben Shelton, in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 [7-5] and 2h03. Despite winning the first round, the Frenchman, currently 68th in the world, suffered from the American's rule, who tightened the game in the second part of the match.

Very solid on his service games in the third set, not conceding any break points, Ben Shelton perfectly mastered his subject in the third set in particular, achieving passing after passing. Pushing Shelton into a decisive tie-break, Arthur Rinderknech remained in contact with the American, before finally losing at the end of the suspense. A cruel end to the match in the tie-break for the Habs, who conceded a fourth defeat in the decisive tie-break against the members of the top 10, as highlighted by the X account, Game, set and math.

At 24, Ben Shelton thus equals his best performance in Paris, where he had already reached the quarter-finals last year, against Jannik Sinner, future winner of the tournament. Ben Shelton also won his first victory against Arthur Rinderknech, who beat him in 2025, at the Queen's tournament, after an already very close match (7-6, 7-6).

End of course for Halys, Berettini throws in the towel

A little earlier in the day, another Frenchman walked out the door. Quentin Halys was eliminated by American Tommy Paul, seeded number 12 and 14th player in the world, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. The Frenchman (30 years old, 46th in the world), winner the day before of the American Frances Tiafoe (8th in the world), lost on Paul's second match point, on his own serve, which he had not lost in the match until then. Tommy Paul will meet Shelton in the quarterfinals. The American also remains in the running for the end-of-year Masters (November 15-22 in Turin). To get his ticket, he will have to reach the final in Paris.

After several withdrawals and withdrawals since the start of the week in Paris, the Italian Matteo Berettini (43rd in the world) in turn withdrew from his match on Thursday, due to an elbow injury. “Unfortunately, the pain in my arm that I have been carrying around for a few days will not allow me to enter the field this evening…” Berettini said on his Instagram account.

His opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, is thus qualified directly for the quarter-finals, where he will face either the French Arthur Fils (7th in the world) or the American Taylor Fritz (12th), who will face each other in the evening session.