The Italian ace has beaten today’s opponent six times, and on four of those occasions went on to win the tournament (including two Grand Slams). But Big Ben warns: “I’m playing my best tennis since my injury”

His index finger cupped to his ear and the usual invitation to turn up the volume. Ben Shelton knocked out Rublev and then celebrated like this in front of the Defense Arena. A double celebration: not only the quarterfinal at the Paris Masters 1000, but above all the ticket to the Finals in Turin. The first of his career. In 2025, Big Ben said “Go”: he has firmly established himself in the top 10, won the first 1000-point tournament of his career (in Toronto), and made his mark in the Grand Slams. A semifinal in Melbourne, a quarterfinal at Wimbledon. Before being stopped, in both cases, by Sinner: Jannik awaits him again in the Paris quarterfinals now.

The least fortunate Grand Slam was undoubtedly the next one, the US Open: Shelton arrived at Flushing Meadows among the favorites, but his shoulder betrayed him. He was forced to withdraw: “I usually always play, even if I’m not feeling well. This time I couldn’t do it, and I just want to cry.” It was a bitter withdrawal in the third round against Mannarino, which forced him to stay away from the tour for several weeks. He returned in Shanghai, but Goffin knocked him out immediately. He needed a new streak of consistent results to dispel the clouds of injury and, above all, secure his spot in the Finals: he succeeded in Paris, first beating Cobolli and then Rublev. And thus unleashing his joy: “I played my best tennis since my injury. I’m back to the level I was at last summer before the US Open.”

against Sinner at Wimbledon—  Speaking of last summer. Before Toronto, Ben ran into Sinner’s power with his serve. A decisive three-set victory at Wimbledon for the Italian, with the American able only to admit after the match: “The speed of the ball with him is truly incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it: when you play against him, it feels like everything is moving at twice the speed.” Even a supersonic player like Ben can come up short. But in 2026, he’ll be back in the running for the Grand Slam. Just like at the last Australian Open: Ben won against Sonego in the quarterfinals, before getting a lesson from Sinner in the semifinals: “In Australia, my serve wasn’t up to my opponent’s level,” he said at the press conference. In Paris, he’ll try to draw inspiration from those two losses. And to make the head-to-head record—which currently stands at 6-1 in Jannik’s favor—a bit more respectable.

talisman—  Shelton’s technical analysis? Sinner provided it a year and a half ago at Indian Wells, before their third meeting: “He serves well, he has a great touch. He plays a good forehand and backhand. And then he’s left-handed…” As early as 2024, Ben was being talked about as a potential contender for the third spot alongside Jannik and Carlos: he’s racked up his first major results in recent months, except against Sinner. In fact, Sinner has found a sort of lucky charm in the American: of the six victories he’s secured against Shelton, four have gone on to lead him to winning the title. It happened in Vienna (2023), in Shanghai (2024), and especially in the two Grand Slams he won this year. Curiously, Ben won their first meeting two years ago in Shanghai. The problem is that since then, the Italian hasn’t conceded a single set to him. Big Ben now wants to put a stop to that.