Can Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton Shine in All-American SF?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Fritz continues his impressive form with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win.
- Ben Shelton halts Alex de Minaur’s winning streak, winning 6-3, 6-4.
- This semifinal represents a significant moment in American tennis history.
- Both players are vying for crucial ATP ranking points.
- Fans eagerly anticipate their rare all-American showdown.
Toronto, Aug 6 (NationPress) Taylor Fritz triumphed over 2024 finalist Andrey Rublev, while Ben Shelton defeated Alex de Minaur to create an all-American semifinal matchup at the Canadian Open.
Fritz narrowly missed out on a serving shutout, sealing a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory. He held match point at 5-4 in the second set after an impressive serving display, looking to achieve his 42nd consecutive hold. However, an unexpected slip allowed Rublev to convert his fourth break point, leveling the match and forcing a tie-break. Drawing from his confidence after winning 18 of his last 21 matches, Fritz ultimately secured the victory, as reported by ATP.
Fritz, now the third player this season to attain 20 hard-court wins according to the ATP Win/Loss index, will face fellow American Ben Shelton in the semifinals.
Shelton climbed inside the ATP Finals qualification after halting De Minaur's seven-match winning streak in the quarterfinals, winning comfortably with a score of 6-3, 6-4. This victory propelled Shelton two spots up to seventh in the ATP Live Race to Turin as he aims for his debut at the season finale in Italy.
The 22-year-old Shelton, who became the youngest American Masters 1000 semifinalist since Andy Roddick 20 years ago in Indian Wells, will rise in the rankings from No. 7 to No. 6, surpassing Novak Djokovic if he clinches the title.
With 13 aces during his 91-minute match, Shelton is now seeking his first win against second seed Fritz in this rare all-American Masters 1000 semifinal, only the fourth since 2000. Their sole ATP meeting previously ended in Fritz's favor in Indian Wells in 2023.