Rolex Paris Masters: Van Assche challenges Shelton to extend the Parisian dream

Two years after Ugo Humbert, finalist of the 2024 edition, a Frenchman shines at home. And not necessarily the one we expected. Arthur Fils was expected, Luca Van Assche took the light. The 22-year-old young man continued his great adventure this Friday by surprising Rinki Hijikata, 83rd in the world, who came out of qualifying (6-4, 6-7 [4-7], 7-5), after a match full of twists and turns. After Learner Tien, the current 47th in the world defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the round of 16, thus making his virtual entry into the top 40. In four days, the Frenchman won four Masters 1000 matches, more than in his entire career up to that point. Winner of the Roland-Garros juniors in 2021, the native of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, in Brussels, is living a waking dream. “Being in the semi-final of a Masters 1000, even more so in Paris, is a dream. I often came to see this tournament in Bercy when I was young. I saw my idols there. I often came for the quarter-finals. Y…