Ben Shelton overcomes Tommy Paul to reach Japan Open semi-final, Marcos Giron stuns Felix Auger-Aliassime

Published 20/10/2023 at 11:49 GMT

Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul met in an all-American battle in the Japan Open quarter-final and it was the former who progressed in straight sets, setting up a last-four encounter with Marcos Giron. Shelton needed one hour and 38 minutes to emerge victorious, while qualifier Giron stunned Felix Auger-Aliassime after 81 minutes to make his first-ever ATP 500 semi-final.

Shelton gets better of compatriot Paul to reach last four in Tokyo

Ben Shelton won an all-American battle against Tommy Paul to make it to the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Friday.

Shelton emerged victorious 7-6(4) 6-3 in an intriguing match lasting one hour and 38 minutes to make it to the last four.

He will next play fellow American Marcos Giron after the qualifier stunned Felix Auger-Aliassime.

ATP Madrid

Rublev 'putting emotions in right direction' after beating Fritz to reach final

5 hours ago

“It was definitely a difficult challenge, as it is whenever you play against a guy as talented and as tough as Tommy Paul,” said Shelton, who saved six of seven break points.

“To be able to get through that with a win, it took a lot of mental toughness. I had to stay calm in the first set, serving for the set and then getting broken and having to finish it in the tie-breaker. It was a difficult task but I’m happy to be moving on.”

The victory moves the 21-year-old two spots to No. 17 in the ATP Live Rankings, while Paul remains 12th.

Meanwhile, qualifier Giron continued his fine run in Tokyo after taking the scalp of eighth seed Auger-Aliassime.

The world No. 79 won 6-1 6-4, converting five of eight break points, to make his first-ever ATP 500 semi-final.

Giron led 3-0 in the second set before losing four of five games but eventually saw the job through after 81 minutes.

Giron upsets Auger-Aliassime to reach semi-finals in Tokyo

“I’m really happy with today’s performance,” said Giron.

“Felix is obviously a phenomenal player, been top 10 in the world, won a lot of titles. He’s beaten me down pretty good the last few times we played, so coming in today I knew I had to play well and I had to play aggressive.

“It is windy, but I started off really well. In the second set I went up a break and it cooled off, got even windier, and it got a little tricky. He raised his level, but we are professional tennis players, we do this for a living, and we’ve got to be ready for anything that comes our way.”

Alex de Minaur fell to Aslan Karatsev 3-6 2-6 - the Russian will play the winner of wildcard Shintaro Mochizuki or Alexei Popyrin.

- - -

Stream top tennis action, including the 2024 Australian Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

ATP Monte Carlo