Shelton ​saved his match points in a marathon second-set tiebreak on ⁠his way to a two-hour-52-minute victory. | Photo Credit: AP

Ben Shelton saved two match points against Czech player ​Jiri Lehecka to set up an ‌all-American final against Taylor Fritz in ​the Stuttgart Open on ⁠Saturday.

The world number five showed real staying power to win 6-7(4), 7-6(14), 7-6(6) ‌having been forced to earlier finish off his quarterfinal against ‌Sho Shimabukuro.

“Sometimes tennis doesn’t go ‌to ⁠plan,” Shelton said after his ⁠third three-set win of the week at the ATP grasscourt event. “I lost the first ​set in ‌every single match I played.

“But there are a lot of ways to win a match. I’ve been ‌choosing the most difficult route.”

Shelton ​saved his match points in a marathon second-set tiebreak on ⁠his way to a two-hour-52-minute victory.

“I’m very tired but excited to be ‌playing him in another final,” said Shelton, who is seeking a third title of the season.

Reigning champion Fritz had things easier as he beat the unpredictable Alexander ‌Bublik 6-4, 6-4, banging down 13 aces.

At ​the Libema Open in Hertogenbosch, Australia’s Alex de Minaur beat ⁠Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-0 to set ⁠up a final against Kamil Majchrzak who beat Daniil ‌Medvedev.

Poland’s Majchrzak won 7-6(4), 6-1 to reach his first ATP Tour ​singles final.

Published on Jun 14, 2026