By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday June 27, 2024
289-ranked Paul Jubb stunned Ben Shelton to reach his first ATP semifinal at Mallorca.
Photo Source: TTV
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday June 27, 2024
Paul Jubb entered this week’s draw in Mallorca with zero ATP wins to his name. A few days later he has three, including his first Top-20 win, and is the lowest-ranked semifinalist on the ATP Tour in 2024.
The 24-year-old British qualifier saved a match point to take out 14th-ranked Ben Shelton on Thursday, surviving a two hour and 45-minute encounter, 6-3 3-6 7-6(8), with the bomb-serving American to reach his maiden ATP semifinal.
The World No.289 will face Austria’s Sebastian Ofner for a spot in the final on Friday.
“This is obviously huge for me,” Jubb said after his win. “Last year was so tough, injured most of the year.
“I’ve been working very, very hard to get back to this point. This is kind of one of those visions you’ve had in your mind for a long time, being on these stages at these tournaments. This is what I’ve been working for, so a bit of relief that I’m here and I’ve done it.”
Jubb, a former South Carolina standout, won the NCAA men’s singles title in 2019.
It was tense down the stretch as Jubb failed to convert his first six match points. Shelton saved three match points while serving at 5-6 in the third to force a tiebreak, then another three before earning his own match point at 8-7. Jubb then won the final three points, prevailing when a Shelton forehand sailed long on his seventh match point.
Alejandro Tabilo and Gael Monfils will meet in the lower half semifinal. Tabilo took out Jakub Mensik, 6-4, 6-4, while Monfils downed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
37-year-old Monfils is into his first grass court semifinal since 2018.