Picture credit score: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis
Tennis is a numbers recreation.
Ben Shelton scaled a formidable determine at present.
On Friday the thirteenth, Shelton stopped Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to cost into the Stuttgart semifinals—and crack the ATP High 10 for the primary time.
Seeing is believing.
Shelton was so thrilled when knowledgeable he’s High 10, the 22-year-old American mentioned he received’t full consider till he sees it.
“I say I’m gonna go look and see with my very own eyes earlier than I consider it,” Shelton mentioned in his on-court interview. “I gotta see it first if that’s true that’s very cool. “A giant milestone in tennis.”
It’s a significant step for American tennis, too. Shelton joins compatriots Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul because the third American man within the High 10.
If Shelton nonetheless has any disbelief on his High 10 debut, he can see it for himself on the ATP Dwell Rankings right here.
It’s the primary profession grass-court semifinal for Shelton, who arrange a blockbuster conflict vs. dwelling hero Alexander Zverev.
The highest-seeded Zverev was a 7-5, 6-4 victor over American Brandon Nakashima, bettering to 4-0 lifetime vs. the pleasure of San Diego.
Persevering with his hunt for his first grass-court title, Zverev, who owns a grass win over Roger Federer, will carry a 2-0 profession document towards Shelton into the semifinals.
In April, Zverev unwrapped a birthday bash towards Shelton in Munich.
Celebrating his twenty eighth birthday, Zverev pumped up the social gathering powering previous Shelton 6-2, 6-4 to gather his twenty fourth profession championship— together with his third Munich crown—earlier than appreciative dwelling followers on April twentieth.
In tomorrow’s grass-court rematch, the American’s deadly lefty serve may very well be the important thing stroke although Zverev figures to generate loads of free factors on function effectively.Shelton says Individuals really feel good karma in Stuttgart.
“That’s actually cool,” Shelton mentioned of his High 10 debut. “A giant milestone and in tennis. I assume Stuttgart is the place for Individuals to interrupt into the High 10 since you all noticed Frances Tiafoe do it a few years in the past when he received that title.
“I’m simply fascinated with this week, I wish to hold going this week and wish to be enjoying on Sunday.”
The left-handed Shelton slashed 18 aces towards 3 double faults, served 64 % and was an ideal 28 for 28 on first-serve factors received to roll into his tenth Tour-level semifinal in 62 minutes.
Earlier, American No. 1 Fritz fired 12 aces and received 35 of 38 first-serve factors defeating Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4 in 75 minutes.
World No. 5 Fritz will face Felix Auger-Aliassime for a spot in Sunday’s closing.
The fourth-seeded Auger-Aliassime stopped the Cinderella run of 17-year-old German wild card Justin Engel.
