Photo credit: Rob Stone/@RobStoneTennis
Tennis is a numbers game.
Ben Shelton scaled a formidable figure today.
On Friday the 13th, Shelton stopped Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to charge into the Stuttgart semifinals—and crack the ATP Top 10 for the first time.
Seeing is believing.
Shelton was so thrilled when informed he’s Top 10, the 22-year-old American said he won’t full believe until he sees it.
“I say I’m gonna go look and see with my own eyes before I believe it,” Shelton said in his on-court interview. “I gotta see it first if that is true that’s very cool. “A big milestone in tennis.”
It’s a major step for American tennis, too. Shelton joins compatriots Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul as the third American man in the Top 10.
If Shelton still has any disbelief on his Top 10 debut, he can see it for himself on the ATP Live Rankings here.
It’s the first career grass-court semifinal for Shelton, who set up a blockbuster clash vs. home hero Alexander Zverev.
The top-seeded Zverev was a 7-5, 6-4 victor over American Brandon Nakashima, improving to 4-0 lifetime vs. the pride of San Diego.
Continuing his hunt for his first grass-court title, Zverev, who owns a grass win over Roger Federer, will carry a 2-0 career record against Shelton into the semifinals.
In April, Zverev unwrapped a birthday bash against Shelton in Munich.
Celebrating his 28th birthday, Zverev pumped up the party powering past Shelton 6-2, 6-4 to collect his 24th career championship— including his third Munich crown—before appreciative home fans on April 20th.
In tomorrow’s grass-court rematch, the American’s lethal lefty serve could be the key stroke though Zverev figures to generate plenty of free points on serve as well.Shelton says Americans feel good karma in Stuttgart.
“That is really cool,” Shelton said of his Top 10 debut. “A big milestone and in tennis. I guess Stuttgart is the place for Americans to break into the Top 10 because you all saw Frances Tiafoe do it a couple of years ago when he won that title.
“I am just thinking about this week, I want to keep going this week and want to be playing on Sunday.”
The left-handed Shelton slashed 18 aces against 3 double faults, served 64 percent and was a perfect 28 for 28 on first-serve points won to roll into his 10th Tour-level semifinal in 62 minutes.
Earlier, American No. 1 Fritz fired 12 aces and won 35 of 38 first-serve points 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 final.
The fourth-seeded Auger-Aliassime stopped the Cinderella run of 17-year-old German wild card Justin Engel.
