There are moments in tennis when form, confidence, and belief blend so seamlessly that the result almost feels inevitable before a ball is struck. Under the bright lights of the La Defense Arena, Jannik Sinner once again walked into that familiar zone—calm, composed, and quietly ruthless. Across the net stood Ben Shelton, the explosive left-handed American star whose fearless style and heavy serving have rattled some of the Tour’s most experienced names. But this time, Sinner wasn’t chasing an SF spot—he was defending a streak, a standard, and a psychological edge he’s built brick by brick over the past two years, especially.

With his 6-3, 6-3 win over the world number 7, Sinner has now secured his 22 consecutive wins against Americans, and this was also his 14 consecutive win against lefties. Do you know Sinner has now won 17 consecutive sets against Shelton? Insane Stuff! This was not just a victory but a statement from the second seed in his 400th Tour-level match, which extended his indoor winning streak to 24 (unbeaten since Davis Cup 2023).

Jannik Sinner didn’t commit a single unforced error off his reliable two-handed backhand and finished with just 10 on his forehand. He was aggressive on second-serve returns and showcased lightning-fast reflexes against Ben Shelton’s fiery delivery. Sinner put the American under some real pressure, causing him to produce a subpar serving performance (aces by Shelton - 7, double faults - 5). While sharing his thoughts about this incredible win, Sinner said, “Very happy. It was a very, very tough match. You know this already before the match. At times, you don’t have a lot of control because of his incredible serving. I felt like I was returning very well. Also, from the back of the court, I played very solid. Also very aggressive. Very happy about today’s match. Now let’s see what’s coming. Tomorrow is gonna be a very physical match in any case. Let’s see how I’m gonna feel. I’m happy about today. It was a great day.”

Next up for the Italian will be the third seed, Alexander Zverev, who recently saved two match points to escape a sturdy challenge from Daniil Medvedev in the other QF match. Sinner currently has a 4-4 record against the German, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can deliver yet another stunning performance against a Top 10 opponent in this tournament. 

In a sport where swagger often takes center stage, Jannik Sinner continues to prove that steel can be silent. His greatness doesn’t need noise; his racket does the talking, his results echo behind him, and his consistency whispers the truth. But this time, the fans witnessed a very unusual moment in his match. What was it?

Jannik Sinner gets caught up in a rare moment at the Paris Masters

Known for his ice-cold demeanor and unfazed composure, Jannik Sinner found himself in an unfamiliar emotional storm during his QF match against Ben Shelton—and the entire Parisian crowd felt the tremor. Although he displayed some real composure with his game in this 69-minute encounter, there was a moment when we surprisingly saw Sinner cursing at his team.

He was seen expressing dissatisfaction with his team early in the second set, urging them to show more enthusiasm.

The score was then 6-3, 3-2 in favor of the Italian when he was heard yelling at his teammates, saying, “f**k I make a break and you’re f***ing sitting.” Given his reputation for his composed nature under pressure, this brief moment of angry outburst stood out as an anomaly. Was it due to exhaustion?

Well, we’ve already seen Jannik Sinner admit that he’s “fresh, fresh” before this match against Shelton. There have been plenty of instances in the past few weeks where we’ve seen him struggling a bit physically. Perhaps that could play a crucial role in this unusual moment featuring the Italian star.

Talking about challenges, well, he’ll be put under some real tests yet again in his SF match against Alexander Zverev, and guess what? There’s a lot on the line for Sinner at the moment, as the year-end number one is still up for grabs. He will usurp Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the rankings (momentarily) with a title triumph at the Paris Masters.

But when he was asked to reflect a bit on what it means to him to make it to the semis here, Jannik Sinner said, “at this moment I’m not thinking about the ranking. It’s all a consequence of how I’m playing. We go day by day. Every day you have very difficult challenges coming up. Today was a very tough one. I’m very happy to come through. Whatever comes out comes out, no? At the end of the year, making semis here in Paris means a lot.”

Sinner has played 58 matches this season and won 51 out of them. He has also managed to claim four titles, including two Grand Slam victories. Speaking about this long season and his upcoming challenge, he further added, “It’s been a very long season with some great results. I never take these results for granted. I’m happy to be in the situation I’m in. Tomorrow is a very important day. I’m looking forward to it. The crowd is amazing. They push us to the limit; doesn’t matter who’s playing. Let’s see what’s coming tomorrow.”

Do you think Jannik Sinner can beat Alexander Zverev in the SF and go a step closer to snatching the crown from Carlitos? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta