HOUSTON — Ben Shelton captured his second profession ATP Tour title, outlasting defending champion Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday to win the U.S. Males’s Clay Courtroom Championship.
Shelton, 21, had 11 aces on the way in which to changing into the youngest participant to win this occasion since Andy Roddick did it at 19 years outdated in 2002.
Shelton has had his points on clay courts. He was 2-7 in his profession on the slower floor and had misplaced his earlier 5 clay-court matches earlier than beginning event play this week.
However Shelton survived three three-set matches to take the title, his first since profitable in Tokyo this previous October.
The previous Florida Gators standout received 83% of his first-serve factors, in line with Infosys ATP Stats, to triumph after 2 hours, 16 minutes.
He and Tiafoe are associates who had joking and sort phrases for each other after the match.
“I do know this one stings,” Shelton mentioned. “Sorry you did not go back-to-back titles, however you are that kind of participant who can go back-to-back. I need to see you do it once more this yr.”
Tiafoe mentioned it was nice enjoying in a closing after a troublesome begin to the yr.
“It might have been cool to get quantity 4,” he mentioned. “We’ll get that quickly sufficient. Let’s actually construct on this and let’s have an excellent ’24.”
Shelton is predicted to rise to No. 14 in subsequent week’s rankings.
