Shelton aims to continue breakout season as Rublev seeks redemption in Paris
Fifth seed Ben Shelton is set to face 12th seed Andrey Rublev in the third round of the Paris Masters 2025. Shelton received a first-round bye and defeated Flavio Coboli in straight sets, while Rublev cruised past qualifier Jacob Fearnley and Learner Tien without dropping a set. World No. 7 Shelton has enjoyed a strong season, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 6 in August.
Considering a few early exits and a US Open retirement due to a left shoulder injury, the 23-year-old has been one of the tour’s most explosive performers. He claimed his third career title in Toronto, beating Karen Khachanov in three sets. He also reached the Munich final, the semifinals in Stuttgart and Washington, and the quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Cincinnati. Shelton has fired 562 aces this season, winning 75% of first-serve points, 27% of return points, and converting 41% of 317 break points.
Shelton beats Cobolli 7-6 6-3 at Paris Masters
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 28, 2025
Ben has now won all 3 meetings this year against Flavio.
In only his 4th match since that awful injury at U.S. Open, he looks like he’s getting back to playing at a very high level.
✅39th win of 2025
Big. Ben. Is. BACK.
🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/i5biHT07wZ
Rublev has had a mixed year with moments of brilliance. The Russian captured his 17th career title in Doha by defeating Jack Draper and reached another final in Hamburg before losing to Flavio Cobolli. He also made semifinal runs in Open Occitanie and Mifel and quarterfinal runs in Rotterdam, Toronto, and Cincinnati. While consistency has eluded him, Rublev has still managed several solid Slam showings, reaching the fourth round multiple times. Statistically, he has produced 462 aces, winning 77% of first-serve points, 29% of return points, and converting 36% of 402 break points.
Into round 3 🙌@Rublev battles past Tien 6-4 6-4 to set a sweet 16 clash with Shelton at #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/gdzuVqVRsK
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 28, 2025
Ben Shelton leads 1-0 in his head-to-head against Andrey Rublev. Their only meeting came at the 2024 Basel Open, where the American prevailed in three hard-fought sets.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Basel | Quarterfinal | Ben Shelton | 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4 |
| Ben Shelton | Category | Andrey Rublev |
| 7 | Current Ranking | 17 |
| 109-73 | Career W-L | 367-208 |
| 38-20 | YTD W-L | 32-24 |
| 3 | Career Titles | 17 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 1 |
Shelton may be tested early by Rublev’s rhythm and consistency, particularly in long rallies. However, the American’s energy and clutch serving indoors tip the scales in his favor.
At 22 years old, Ben Shelton becomes the youngest American man to make three Major Round of 16 appearances in a year since Andy Roddick in 2004 🇺🇲 pic.twitter.com/OOHdgD0HNz
— ESPN (@espn) July 5, 2025
Prediction: Ben Shelton in straight sets
Ben Shelton (-138) enters as a slight favorite, backed by his recent indoor form and booming serve. Andrey Rublev (+115) has the experience and baseline firepower to threaten, but Shelton’s aggressive first-strike tennis should give him the edge.
Here are the betting odds according to FanDuel:
Ben Shelton: -138
Andrey Rublev: +115
Here are the odds for total games as well as total sets for both players (sourced via FanDuel):
Set 1 Winner Shelton: -126
Set 1 Winner Rublev: +102
(According to FanDuel: FanDuel offers exclusive promo codes, bonus deals and accurate odds for users upon signing up. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game in all sports!)
Mandatory Image Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
nfl 
mma I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
Read moreWe use cookies for ads and to improve your experience. By continuing on the site, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Read more about it
