World no. 23 Ben Shelton will compete in his first Swiss Indoors semi-final in Basel. The young American prevailed over world no. 7 Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes, remaining on the title course. Roger Federer's father, Robert, watched the match from Ben's box with his father and coach Bryan. The top-10 player claimed six points more than his opponent. He played well in the second set and stayed neck and neck in the decider before his rival delivered a late break and sealed the deal. Thus, the Russian failed to add more points to his tally in the ATP Race to Turin, remaining eighth between Novak Djokovic and Casper Ruud.
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Numbers behind Shelton's tight win
Ben blasted 48 service winners, 14 more than his opponent. Rublev added 38 winners and 13 unforced errors, besting Shelton's 25-15 ratio. The more experienced player had the upper hand from the baseline but lost the edge in the pivotal moments. He sprayed all six break points in sets one and two and got broken two times from as many opportunities offered to the young gun. The American had the upper hand in the shortest exchanges thanks to those service winners, trailing in the mid-range and most extended rallies but prevailing with a fine performance in the decider.
Ben delivers a late break in the opener
The encounter kicked off with four comfortable holds before world no. 23faced issues at 2-2. The young gun saved three break points, holding and remaining on the positive side. The servers stood too strong in the next six games, with Shelton leading 6-5. Rublev squandered a game point in game 12 and netted a forehand on a set point, propelling his opponent 7-5 in front after 45 minutes.
Andrey bounces back in the second set
The Russian served well in the second set and missed an opportunity to build an early advantage. The American saved a break point in the first game and two more at 1-1, maintaining his composure and remaining on the positive side. Shelton held after a deuce at 2-2, and they served well in the remaining ones to introduce a tie break. Andrey built an early advantage and hit a smash winner at 5-2 for four set points. World no. 7 converted the second, introducing a decider after an hour and 41 minutes.
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Shelton bounces back and earns a crucial break in the decider
Ben raised his level behind the initial shot in the final set, avoiding issues from the second and challenging the better-ranked opponent. The younger player landed a forehand winner at 0-15 in the eighth game and held for 4-4. A left-hander made a push on the return in the ninth game, welcoming the rival's forehand mistake and securing the pivotal break. Shelton served for the win at 5-4 and fired a booming serve for a hold at love and a place in the semi-final.
