American tennis sensation Ben Shelton made headlines at the Munich Open after dispatching Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-4, 6-3 to secure a spot in the ATP semifinals. The 22-year-old, seeded No. 2, delivered a dominant performance, firing winners in brisk Bavarian conditions and ending Darderi’s impressive seven-match winning streak, which included a recent title run in Marrakech.
Shelton’s victory marks his second career semifinal on clay, a notable achievement for an American player on this surface. His relentless baseline play and composure under pressure allowed him to control the match, converting half of his break points while not facing a single one in the opening set. The win also underlines Shelton’s rapid adaptation to European clay, building on his previous success in Houston last year.
Next up, Shelton faces Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, a formidable clay-court specialist who recently ousted David Goffin to reach the last four. With top contenders like Alexander Zverev also in the mix, the stage is set for a dramatic finish in Munich as Shelton eyes his maiden ATP title on clay.
