Defending champion Frances Tiafoe has superior to the semi-finals of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston with a 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory over Australia’s Jordan Thompson.
The 29-year-old Sydneysider has risen to a career-high world rating of 31 after spectacular outcomes to start out 2024, which included a win over Rafael Nadal in Brisbane and a event victory in Los Cabos.
Thompson fought for 2 hours earlier than succumbing to the third-seeded American, who was in a position to break the Australian No.2 late in each units.
“I thought it was a really good match tonight,” Tiafoe mentioned.
“First set was crucial, really, really tough. He broke me there at 5-5, I played a great game to break back. I was down in the tiebreak most of the time and got out of there, and I played a pretty good second set.
“It was a protracted two-set match, however I’m pleased to be within the semis right here as soon as once more.”
Tiafoe will meet Luciano Darderi in his 14th tour-level semi after the Italian beat Marcos Giron of the US, 6-0 6-4.
In other quarter-final action on Saturday (AEDT), top seed Ben Shelton beat fellow American Brandon Nakashima 7-5 7-6 (11-9).
The 21-year-old Shelton advanced to his fifth tour-level semi-final and improved to 17-1 against players outside of the top 50 in the ATP Rankings since the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto in August.
“Definitely not a straightforward matchup right this moment with the best way Brandon was serving and enjoying,” Shelton mentioned.
“He made issues actually issue and I used to be positively feeling the stress in that tiebreak. But I’m actually pleased to get via.”
Shelton will face fourth-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, last year’s runner-up, in the final four.
Etcheverry led Michael Mmoh 6-3 0-1 when the American retired because of an injury. This will be the fourth ATP tour semi for Etcheverry, with all of them coming on clay.
With AAP.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
