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Shelton beats Rublev to reach Paris Masters last eight / Photo: © AFP
NYSE - LSE
Shelton beats Rublev to reach Paris Masters last eight
American fifth seed Ben Shelton beat Russia's Andrey Rublev 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 on Thursday to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.
The 23-year-old will next face either Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo or former world number one Jannik Sinner.
Shelton edged a tight opening set against 12th seed Rublev after nearly an hour on court.
The big-serving Toronto Masters champion then secured the first break of the match in the seventh game of the second set to close in on victory.
Shelton engineered several match points in Rublev's next service game, before eventually converting at the third time of asking.
Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime booked his place in the quarter-finals as he came from behind for the third time in as many matches in Paris to beat German Daniel Altmaier 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The ninth seed is currently one spot outside the last ATP Finals berth, which is occupied by Lorenzo Musetti, who lost Wednesday to fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
That result coupled with an Auger-Alissime run to the title-decider in Paris would send the 25-year-old above Musetti in the race to Turin.
However, before he can think too much about that, Auger-Aliassime must stop the in-form Valentin Vacherot of Monaco.
The Shanghai Masters champion continued his sensational run of form by ousting Carlos Alcaraz's British vanquisher Cameron Norrie in straight sets in the opening match on centre court.
Later, four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner will seek to keep alive his hopes of reclaiming the world number one ranking when he takes on Cerundolo in the night session.
L. Dias--JDB
