American tennis players have qualified for the prestigious ATP Finals for the first time since 2006, signaling a significant return for U.S. talent to the season-ending championship.
Ben Shelton, the 23-year-old world No. 7, secured his debut spot by reaching the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters 1000. He joins compatriot Taylor Fritz, currently ranked world No. 4, in the elite eight-player tournament.
This marks the first time in nearly two decades that two Americans will compete in the ATP Finals. The last occurrence was in 2006 when Andy Roddick and James Blake participated in the event, then known as the Masters Cup.
Shelton cemented his place in Turin by defeating Russia’s Andrey Rublev, world No. 17, with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory in the Paris Masters 1000 round of 16. The ATP Finals will take place in Turin, Italy, from November 9-16, bringing together the year’s top eight singles players.
Australian Alex De Minaur, ranked world No. 6, also secured his qualification, making it his second consecutive appearance at the Finals. He achieved this by defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov, world No. 14, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, also in the Paris Masters 1000.
De Minaur claimed the penultimate spot for the tournament at the Inalpi Arena. The final remaining berth will be contested between Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who also advanced to the Paris Masters 1000 quarterfinals.
Auger-Aliassime currently trails Musetti by 290 points. He would clinch the last spot for Turin if he wins the Paris Masters 1000 tournament.
Other players already qualified for the ATP Finals include Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.