By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday April 6, 2024
Ben Shelton reached his first clay-court final on Saturday in Houston, and will face Frances Tiafoe for the title.
Photo Source: Mark Howard
Sunday will be an all-American affair in Houston.
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe made sure of it, as the Americans each moved through to set a rematch of last year’s US Open quarterfinals, which was won by Shelton in four sets.
Shelton, making his debut in Houston and in possession of a 2-7 lifetime record on clay, reached his first ATP final on the surface with a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 victory over last year’s runner-up Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
21-year-old Shelton needed two hours and 29 minutes to get past the No.2 seed, converting three of four break points and winning 84 percent of his first-serve points to improve to 14-7 on the season.
Shelton dropped a tense opener, but turned things around in the second set, dropping just two points on serve as he forced a decider.
After a trade of breaks in the third set, Shelton broke critically for 4-2 and held serve the rest of the way.
"I think it took a few games into the second set for me to really start hitting my stride. I was frustrated as anyone would be with the outcome of the first set," said 16th-ranked Shelton after reaching his second career ATP final.
"You have a lot of time out here, playing on clay. The game just moves a little bit slower, you have more time to process. I tried to use that to my advantage today.”
Etcheverry falls to 7-8 on the season with the loss.
Tiafoe toppled Italy’s Luciano Darderi, 6-2, 7-6(2) to reach his 8th ATP final. The No.3 seed stretches his Houston winning streak to seven matches – he is the first player to reach the final in Houston during his title defense since Steve Johnson in 2018.
“I thought I played really well today,” Tiafoe said of Darderi. “He’s a tough out on this surface for sure, and he’s gonna be a tough out on this surface for a long time.
Regarding what he likes about his own play this week, Tiafoe said: “I’m competing so much better, having much more fun doing so and playing much more aggressive and just having a lot more fun on the court.”
Tiafoe will bid for his fourth career title on Sunday; Shelton will bid for his second.
“Obviously he has one of the best serves on the tour,” Tiafoe said. “Holding serve [will be] huge. He’s a great player, it’s gonna be a tough match and I’m ready for a good battle.”