Sinner Surges to Paris Masters Semis as Zverev Stuns Medvedev for a Sinner Showdown

Sinner advances to the Paris Masters semifinals after defeating Shelton

Italian rising star Jannik Sinner delivered a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win over American Ben Shelton on Friday at the Paris Masters, reaching the semifinals of a 1,000-point event for the first time in his career and keeping alive his bid to return to the world No. 1 ranking.

The second seed sealed the victory in 69 minutes, moving past Shelton in straight sets in their quarterfinal clash.

The win extends Sinner’s indoor win streak to 24 matches, a run dating back to November 2023, and keeps his title chase alive as he eyes a fifth trophy this season, including his first Masters 1000 title of 2025.

Sinner credited his strong serving and solid returns, noting that Shelton’s serve presented a challenge, but he felt he handled it well and was able to neutralize the American’s pace on big points.

In a breakout performance, Sinner didn’t commit a backhand error and finished with ten forehand mistakes, a feat that underscored his controlled aggression on the indoor hard courts. The match lasted 69 minutes and set up a semis showdown with a familiar rival.

He becomes the first Italian to reach 43 semifinals on the ATP Tour, surpassing legends who previously held the mark. Since that Shanghai setback two years ago to Shelton, Sinner has won seven straight against the 23-year-old American, highlighting a growing mental edge in their sparse but telling rivalry.

“From the back of the court I played with toughness and aggression, and I was happy with how I managed the exchanges,” Sinner said in quotes relayed by the ATP. He also highlighted his ability to read Shelton’s second serve, a key factor in swinging the match in his favor.

Looking back on the indoor run, Sinner’s performance has reinforced his status as one of the tour’s most pressing contenders for the world No. 1 ranking should he continue this form into the final weeks of the season.

Notes on the rising Italian star: Sinner remains a serious contender for the year-end top ranking, and his performance in Paris continues to build momentum toward a potential title push in the coming weeks. He has developed a reputation for relentless baseline consistency and thoughtful shot selection, even as he sharpens his weaponry on big points.

Next up: Vienna final rematch vibes

With the Paris run, Sinner now awaits a dramatic semifinal against the other half of Paris’ storyline: Alexander Zverev, who after a dramatic comeback will try to neutralize the Italian threat. The narrative: a Viennese final rematch, with both players chasing their own form peaks ahead of the season’s closing stretch.

Zverev survives Medvedev to set up Sinner clash in the semis

In the other quarterfinal, Alexander Zverev defeated Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, ending a five-match skid against the Russian and ending Medvedev’s bid to reach the final. He saved two match points on Medvedev’s serve at 4-5 in the deciding set and closed it out in a tense tiebreak after 2 hours and 30 minutes.

“The part that pleased me most was saving those moments and staying bold in the big points,” Zverev said. He also noted a crucial 27-shot rally that concluded with a net-cord winner to seal the win. He finished with zero backhand errors and 10 forehand errors, a balanced display that underscored his persistence when it counted.

The turning point arrived when Shelton double-faulted on a bold second serve at 3-4 during a break point, allowing Zverev to serve for the match and complete the comeback. The German’s victory keeps him on track for a Paris title and a potential repeat of last week’s Vienna finale against Sinner.

With this win, Zverev remains alive in the title race and will now face Sinner, in a semifinal that carries the memory of their Vienna final. Zverev’s win also kept alive the possibility of a dramatic late-season surge as he chases a deep run in Paris and beyond.

Opta notes add an extra layer of intrigue: since Paris opened in 1986, only Djokovic, Becker, and Nadal have reached the semifinals more times than Zverev (four). Zverev’s path adds another chapter to a storied career as he eyes another major test against Sinner.

“I don’t enjoy playing Medvedev, he’s beaten me a lot in recent years,” Zverev remarked after the match. “But I’m happy with this win and with the chance to play Jannik again. It should be another great match.”

Head-to-head before Paris stood at 4-4 between Zverev and Sinner, with Sinner winning the last Vienna final—an outcome that has added extra intrigue to their rematch in Paris. The odds and the narrative both point to a potentially spectacular semifinal duel.

In the broader context, Paris’ semifinal lineup is shaping into a showcase for talent and grit, with the ATP’s numbers backing Zverev’s deep run as a favorite to push deeper into the event.

Punchlines to close on a lighter note: 1) When tennis players party, do they call it a “serve-and-take”? 2) If the points kept piling up, the umpire would need a bigger chair—preferably one with a snack drawer for when the rallies get cheeky.