Ben Shelton sets up epic Paris Masters final clash against Carlos Alcaraz

Home favourite Van Assche took the opening set 7-5 after breaking at 5-5, capitalising on Shelton's early errors - especially on the forehand.

Shelton improved his level in the second set, breaking at 3-2 and levelling the match 6-3.

Van Assche broke early in the decider to lead 3-1, but Shelton immediately broke back and then took control, winning five of the last six games to close it out 6-4.

Shelton's serve was decisive, with 19 aces and zero double faults, a strong first-serve percentage giving a huge advantage.

This marked Shelton's third consecutive three-set win in Paris and made him the first American finalist at the event since Jack Sock in 2017.

In the other semi-final on Saturday, Alcaraz advanced past Casper Ruud with a controlled straight-sets victory, never facing a break point and only dropping nine points on serve all match.

Both sets followed a similar pattern, with Alcaraz holding serve comfortably before securing the single break he needed - in the seventh game of the first set and late in the second.

He finished strongly, including an ace to seal the match, and Ruud appeared physically limited and struggled to generate consistent pressure or create opportunities on return.

Alcaraz, who had saved two match points against Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals, was strong at the net, which complemented his solid serving and all-court play.

READ MORE: Jessica Pegula's comments about Mirra Andreeva brings out WTA apology