Ben Shelton rallied for a 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jordan Thompson on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Dallas Open.
The third-seeded American will face countryman Tommy Paul, the No. 2 seed who beat Dominik Koepfer of Germany, 7-5, 6-3, in another quarterfinal.
Also Read: Ledecky’s 13-year Unbeaten Streak in 800-meter Freestyle Ends
France’s Adrian Mannarino, the fourth seed who reached the quarters without playing a match, was set to face Australia’s James Duckworth in the late match.
Shelton saved three break points in the clinching game after doing the same when serving for the second set in a match that didn’t even have a break point until the 19th game.
The 21-year-old seeking his second ATP Tour victory won with a forehand that hit the baseline on his second match point.
Shelton lost in five sets to Mannarino in the third round of the Australian Open after losing to Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open semifinals last summer.
“I think any time you can come back and get a win after losing the first set, it’s impressive, especially against someone who serves as well as Jordan does,” Shelton said. “He presented so many problems today. I had to problem-solve the whole match.”
After a first set without a break point, the server won the first three points of the tiebreaker before Thompson’s crosscourt winner on a volley with both players at the net for a 3-1 lead.
Thompson, the No. 7 seed from Australia, went on to win six straight points for a 6-1 lead and closed out the set two points later when a shot from Shelton sailed long.
Shelton earned the first break points of the match when he got three at 3-3 in the second set. He converted the third with a forehand winner on the return of serve, then finally closed out the set on his serve when he converted a third set point after saving Thompson’s first three break points of the match.
Shelton’s best game came at 3-3 of the third set when he had three winners to break Thompson at love. The big-serving left-hander topped 140 mph several times while holding off Thompson in the deciding game.
Koepfer committed two unforced errors to help give Paul three set points in the opening set, and Paul finished it off with a deep forehand that forced Koepfer to put another one in the net.
Paul closed out the match with a forehand winner on his fifth match point.
Comments
0 comment