Sinner Makes Paris Masters History: A First-Time Quarterfinals Breakthrough
30 October 2025
Historic Paris Run for Sinner
Italian world No. 2 Jannik Sinner advanced to the Paris Masters quarterfinals for the first time in his career after defeating Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-1 on Thursday.
At 24, Sinner became the first Italian to reach the quarterfinals in all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, reinforcing his standing among the elite after a season full of big wins and tight battles.
He will take on American Ben Shelton for a place in the semifinals, keeping the focus on a run that could boost his momentum heading toward the season-ending championships in Torino.
“The first set felt decisive. Francisco is incredibly talented, and it’s hard to play against someone of his level,” Sinner said after the win. “In the second, I raised my level and I’m really happy to reach the quarterfinals here for the first time.”
Cerundolo had his moments, feeling the pressure and testing Sinner’s consistency, but the Italian steadied himself, sealing the first set in a close tussle and pulling away in the second with a series of strong serves and decisive ball striking.
In the second set, Sinner grabbed the initiative early, breaking Cerundolo and racing toward the finish line, a sign that his form is aligned with the confidence he showed in winning multiple major titles in recent years.
The Paris result keeps Sinner within striking distance of recapturing the world No. 1 spot, a throne briefly held by Carlos Alcaraz before a late fall reshuffle in the rankings.
ATP Finals implications
Meanwhile, Shelton, the seventh seed, sealed his ATP Finals berth in Torino by reaching the quarterfinals with a 7-6(6) 6-3 win over Andrey Rublev, marking a major milestone in a breakthrough season for the American.
Australian Alex de Minaur followed suit by advancing to the quarterfinals, joining Shelton in the race for the eight coveted spots at the year-end championships in Turin.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, the 10th seed, also secured his place in Torino after a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Daniel Altmaier, ensuring the Canadian will travel to Italy for the final tournament of the season for the second consecutive year.
Shocking developments continued as Musetti, eighth in the race, saw his momentum stall after a defeat to Sonego in three sets, impacting the Italian’s chances of clinching a Turin berth in the short term.
Auger-Aliassime’s win and Shelton’s continued progress keep the ATP Finals picture in flux, with every match in Paris carrying extra weight as the countdown toward Turin intensifies.
“The qualification is the fruit of a year of hard work, with its share of ups and downs,” Shelton said after his victory, underscoring the long road to the season-ending event. “Ending the year with this goal achieved is a great motivator.”
As Paris basks in the late-season glow, fans will be watching closely to see if Sinner can seize the moment and push deeper, or if Torino-bound players can sustain their momentum on the big stage. The drama in Paris is far from over, and the end-of-season race is heating up in earnest.
Punchlines to close: 1) Sinner’s backhand is so sharp it could slice a croissant in half—and still win the set. 2) If Paris gets any hotter, the Eiffel Tower might need a tennis racket just to keep its cool.
