In a significant development at the 2026 Paris Masters 1000 held at the Plénitude Arena in La Défense, French tennis player Luca Van Assche has secured his place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought victory over Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. The win marks a historic milestone for the 22-year-old North Sea-native, who had previously struggled with rankings fluctuations but recently claimed the 2021 Junior French Open title. As the last remaining French hope in the singles draw following the early exits of Arthur Fils, Arthur Rinderknech, and Quentin Halys, Van Assche's progression highlights a remarkable resurgence in form. [5] [4]

Van Assche defeated Hijikata with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, completing a grueling quarter-final that tested both players' endurance and mental resilience. The match featured intense rallies, particularly in the third set where Van Assche faced critical break points. Despite the physical toll, which saw the French player nearly collapsing under pressure at times, he managed to capitalize on Hijikata's errors and maintain focus during the decisive tie-break. The victory propels Van Assche into a clash with American Ben Shelton, the fourth-ranked player and eventual winner of the day's matches against Tommy Paul. [5] [4]

The success at Paris has dramatically altered Van Assche's standing in the ATP rankings. Having been ranked as low as 238th at the end of 2025, the young talent is now poised to climb to at least 34th in the world, representing a gain of 204 positions within a single year. This rapid ascent is attributed not only to his aggressive playing style but also to a unique professional structure that balances elite tennis with rigorous academic pursuits. Van Assche is enrolled in the Mido program (Mathematics and Decision Science) at Université Paris-Dauphine-PSL, utilizing a specialized 'Talent Path' that accommodates training schedules while maintaining high academic standards. [4]

Van Assche's advancement sets up a compelling semi-final fixture against Ben Shelton. Shelton, known for his powerful serving, had earlier dispatched Tommy Paul in straight sets to advance from the all-American quarter-final bracket. The upcoming match is expected to draw a highly supportive local crowd, with fans of the 'Tribune Bleue' group actively engaging to boost Van Assche's morale. Following the quarter-final, Van Assche expressed gratitude for the crowd's support, noting its crucial role in sustaining him during difficult moments of the match. [5] [3]

While Van Assche navigates this breakthrough, fellow Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz also advanced to the semi-finals. Alcaraz recovered from a lost first set to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, saving two match points in the process. Alcaraz’s path was marked by nostalgia for previous tournaments at the historic Bercy venue, contrasting with the current environment at the Plénitude Arena. Alcaraz will face either Casper Ruud or Nuno Borges in the next round, as Ruud defeated Borges 7-6, 6-4. Additionally, the French doubles pair of Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are set to contest the doubles semi-final. [2] [5]

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Sources

  1. 20 Minutes EN DIRECT Van Assche - Shelton : Il faut mettre le feu pour pousser Van Assche vers sa première finale en Masters 1000... Suivez le match avec nous...
  2. 20 Minutes Masters 1000 de Paris : Et si la Plénitude Arena se transformait enfin un chaudron pour la demi-finale de Van Assche ?
  3. 20 Minutes Masters 1000 de Paris : Et si la Plénitude Arena se transformait enfin un chaudron pour la demi-finale de Van Assche ?
  4. 20 Minutes Masters 1000 de Paris : « Un équilibre lié aux maths de très haut niveau »… Qualifié en demie, Van Assche la grosse tête
  5. rmcsport.bfmtv.com Masters 1000 de Paris: Alcaraz signe une remontada et file dans le dernier carré