Shelton, Tiafoe set all-American Houston final

Ben Shelton has done it the hard way this week at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Clay Court Championship, but the American is still standing on home soil. The Houston top seed scored his second comeback win of the week on Saturday in a 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 semi-final result against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Through to his first ATP Tour final on clay and his second overall, Shelton awaits Frances Tiafoe in the title round after the defending champion's 6-2, 7-6(2) win against Luciano Darderi. The Americans' lone previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting came in the 2023 US Open quarter-finals, when Shelton won in four sets.

Shelton was also victorious in his previous final, claiming his maiden tour-level crown last October in Tokyo.

Firts clay final incoming 🚀@BenShelton defeats Etcheverry 6-7 6-4 6-4 to achieve his biggest clay win of his career in Houston! @mensclaycourt | #USClay pic.twitter.com/X4KETz0O19

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 6, 2024

The 21-year-old did not face a break point in the opening set against Etcheverry, whose two tour-level final runs have both come on clay. Shelton lost the opener despite winning more points than the fourth-seeded Argentine (38-36), but came back stronger to turn the match around.

"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 the No. 16 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

"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 and really happy to be in the finals my first time here in Houston.

Across two-and-a-half hours of play, Shelton saved two of three break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Etcheverry's lone break came in the second game of the deciding set at 1-1, part of an eight-point run from the Argentine that earned him a 2-1 lead in the third. But his momentum was quickly halted when Shelton snapped back by winning the next three games to seize control.

Shelton also came from behind to beat Zizou Bergs in his Houston opener to advance to his first clay quarter-final. He then edged compatriot Brandon Nakashima in two tight sets, saving a set point in the second-set tie-break before continuing his run.

Up one place to No. 15 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Shelton could rise to No. 14 with his second ATP Tour singles title — a mark that would represent a new career high.

This is going to be GOOD 🍿

An all-American battle, who’s your winner? 👇🇺🇸

@mensclay | #USClay pic.twitter.com/Qn5BAwNIL1

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 6, 2024

Tiafoe saved both break points he faced against Darderi to advance to his first final since June, when he won Stuttgart. It is the American's eighth tour-level final (3-4) and his fourth on clay (1-2). 

By beating this year's Cordoba champion, Tiafoe became the first defending champion to reach the Houston final since Steve Johnson in 2018.

"Great performance from me today," assessed Tiafoe, who said more aggression and more fun have been the keys to his run. "It's a little different clay out here in Houston, you can play more like a hard court. But he's a tough out on this surface for sure and he's going to be a tough out on this surface for a long time."

Looking ahead to his second meeting with Shelton, Tiafoe — who has lost serve just once this week — stressed the importance of his service games against his big-hitting countryman.

"He's got one of the best serves on the Tour. Holding serve is huge," Tiafoe said. "He's a great player. It's going to be a tough match and I'm ready for a good battle."