Shelton tops Paul to reach first Paris Masters semi and advances Tiafoe into ATP Finals

PARIS (AP) — Ben Shelton won an all-American matchup against Tommy Paul to reach the Paris Masters semifinals for the first time on Friday.

Shelton, with 19 aces, won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 under the roof at Plenitude Arena after converting two of four break points. It was his third win in five meetings between them.

The third-seeded Shelton ended Paul's hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin this month.

As a result, another American player, Frances Tiafoe, clinched a spot and will debut at the season-ending tournament.

“Frances has had an outstanding year. One of my best friends, and to see him make Turin for the first time is amazing,” Shelton said. “I’m super happy for him. We have had a lot of Americans competing for that spot, it’s been a big year from all of us, and it’s cool that we are all in the mix.”

Only one singles spot remained open at the Finals. The qualifiers so far were top-ranked Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils.

Taylor Fritz could join them if he defeats Alcaraz later Friday. If Fritz loses, Rafael Jodar will qualify.

Shelton will next play local Luca Van Assche, who took almost three hours to defeat qualifier Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Ben Shelton of the United States reacts after winning his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the United States at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Tommy Paul of the United States returns the ball to Ben Shelton of the United States during a quarterfinal match of the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ben Shelton of the United States returns the ball to Tommy Paul of the United States during a quarterfinal match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Ben Shelton of the United States reacts after winning his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the United States at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

MIAMI (AP) — Former NFL star Antonio Brown pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated assault with a firearm in connection with a 2025 shooting outside a celebrity boxing match in Miami.

Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez sentenced Brown to three years of probation, during which time he will have to attend weekly counseling sessions and not possess a firearm, among other conditions.

Wearing a black leather jacket and white pants, he spoke sparingly and in a low voice during the brief proceedings in Miami state court. As he entered his guilty plea, the judge asked him to speak up.

Outside the courtroom, Brown thanked God and said he wanted to “get back to life” and his family.

He declined to answer other questions, but his lawyer, Mark Eiglarsh, said they were “extremely grateful” the case was behind them.

“My client was facing 30 years in prison with a 20-year minimum mandatory, and he was given an offer he just couldn’t refuse,” he said. “Probation was too good to turn down, and we’re both very excited about the outcome.”

The plea to the reduced charge allows the All-Pro wide receiver to not only avoid prison time but criminal conviction.

Brown had initially been charged with attempted murder after police say he grabbed a handgun from a security staffer at the event and fired two shots at a man he had been in a fistfight with earlier.

Brown, 38, maintained he was defending himself from an attack as others were trying to steal jewelry from him.

Florida’s Stand Your Ground law allows people who believe they face death or serious injury to use deadly force to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.

Prosecutor Howard Rosen said in court Friday that his office was seeking to reduce the charge against Brown because there was “a question” of whether he was actually attempting to shoot the victim, who had been walking away from the altercation at the time.

He noted the victim, who was grazed in the neck, was in court for the hearing and has said publicly that he wouldn't cooperate with police and didn't want to press charges.

“Rather than the entire case going away and there being no opportunity for Mr. Brown to receive what's ultimately going to be some therapeutic treatment, we all came together — the defense and the state — and decided that this was in the best interest of everybody,” Rosen said.

The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, has said previously that he’s since forgiven Brown. His lawyer, Richard Cooper, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday.

Brown spent 12 years in the NFL, most of it with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 under quarterback Tom Brady.

The following season, though, Brown effectively ended his career when he inexplicably took off his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves and ran off the field during a game. The Buccaneers released him after the incident.

Brown has dealt with other legal problems in recent years.

He previously was accused of battery on a moving truck driver, faced several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support and other incidents.

Brown was extradited in November 2025 from Dubai, where he has business interests, after an arrest warrant on the attempted murder charge was issued in June of the same year.

Marcelo reported from New York.

FILE- Former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown appears in court at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP, Pool, File)