Top seed Ben Shelton came back from one set down in his 3-6 6-4 6-3 win over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs to reach his first quarter final on clay at the Fayez Sarofim US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston.
World number 111 Zizou Bergs saved 13 of the 16 break points he faced. Shelton won 75% of his first serve points. Shelton hit three aces and made four double faults.
Bergs saved three break points in the fourth game of the first set before winning four consecutive games from 2-3 down to seal the first set 6-3.
Shelton earned his first break in the seventh game of the second set to take a 4-3 lead. The US player served out on his second set point after saving five break-back points in the 10th game.
Shelton broke serve at love in the first game of the third set to open up a 2-0 lead. Bergs saved three break points in the seventh game. Shelton broke again on his second match point in the ninth game.
Shelton set up a quarter final match against Brandon Nakashima. Shelton is aiming to reach his third semifinal of 2024.
Shelton and Nakashima have never played against each other on the ATP Tour.
“I am just really happy to get through it. It definitely was a long one. I am sorry if I kept you guys here a little later than you expected tonight, but I am really happy to be playing here in Houston. It’s a great fanbase that they have for tennis here. Thanks everyone for coming here”, said Shelton.
Luciano Darderi upset Francisco Cerundolo 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-4) after 2 hours and 30 minutes. Darderi won 40% of his return points. The Italian player won the first ATP Tour title of his career.
Cerundolo saved a break point in both of the fifth and seventh games of the opening set. Darderi broke serve in the seventh game and held on his serve to win the first set 6-4.
Cerundolo saved a break point to hold serve in the third game of the second set. The Argentine player broke twice in the sixth and eighth games to win the second set 6-2.
Darderi saved two break points to hold serve after four holds in the second game. The Italian player broke serve at love in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Cerundolo pulled back on serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Darderi converted his second break point after three deuces to take a 4-3 lead. Cerundolo broke straight back to 4-4. Both players traded mini-breaks at the start of the tie-break. Darderi earned three match point at 6-3 after a double fault from Cerundolo and sealed the win on his second opportunity.
Darderi set up a quarter final match against Marcos Giron, who beat JJ Wolf 6-4 6-3. Giron, who reached the final in Dallas and the semifinal in Delray Beach, broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Wolf broke back in the ninth game for 4-5. Giron broke again on his sixth set point 6-4 in a very long 10th game which features 24 points. The US player broke again in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and sealed the second set 6-3 on his first match point after saving two break points in the ninth game.
