Japan Open: Shelton fights back from the brink to reach first ATP final

The American will meet the winner of the match between Japanese wildcard Shintaro Mochizuki and Russian Aslan Karatsev for the title

Haresh Ramchandani

October 21, 2023

Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships •Semi-final • Completed

See draw

B. SheltonvsM. Giron

American Ben Shelton found himself trailing a set and 5-2, a double break, against countryman Marcos Giron on Saturday in the first semi-final of the Japan Open.

But the 21-year-old fought back from that point and went on to beat the qualifier 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4 in two hours and 50 minutes at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo and reach the first ATP singles final of his career.

Shelton, already ranked No 19, will face the winner of the match between Japanese wildcard Shintaro Mochizuki and Russian Aslan Karatsev next. The left-hander is guaranteed to climb to a new career-high of No 17 in the world next week and could climb higher with a win on Sunday.

Earlier in the tournament, Shelton, who hit 13 aces in the match today, beat Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel (3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2)), Australian Jordan Thompson (6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3) and No 5 seed Tommy Paul (7-6 (4), 6-3).

Giron, ranked No 79, won against Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (7-6 (14), 4-6, 6-1), Norwegian Casper Ruud, the second seed (6-3, 6-4) and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 8 seed (6-1, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Tokyo Open.

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