Published on : Modified :
Melbourne (AFP) – American Tommy Paul, 35th in the world, qualified for his first Grand Slam semi-final by beating his compatriot Ben Shelton (89th) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6- 4, Wednesday at the Australian Open.
“I’m delighted to be here… Going into the second week of a Grand Slam tournament is a dream for all tennis players. So to be here now, in the semis, is incredible,” said said Paul.
At 25, he had never passed the round of 16 of a Major (stage reached at Wimbledon 2022). He will face Serbian Novak Djokovic (5th) or Russian Andrey Rublev (6th) in Melbourne on Friday to try to advance to the final.
“It’s the first time I’ve played on this court, the first time I’ve played a quarter-final, so for me too it’s a beautiful trip,” added Paul in reference to his opponent who had no never left the United States before coming to Australia at the start of the year to play the Adelaide tournament (eliminated in the first qualifying round) then the Major in Melbourne.
Paul is the first American to reach the last four of the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2009. And he is the third active American to play in a Grand Slam semi-final following John Isner (Wimbledon 2018) and Frances Tiafoe (US Open 2022).
Against Shelton, the match was very tight especially in the first set when the two players arrived at the tie break without having released their face-off. Paul won on his second set point, the first on his serve .
He then earned the break to lead 4-2 in the second set and was not caught.
When he broke once more in the third set, the game seemed to be over. But, from the height of his 20 years, Shelton who has only played three ATP tournaments and joined the US Open last year by invitation, picked up immediately before making the decisive break of the round on the final game. of Paul’s service.
The latter took the lead immediately in the fourth set with a break to lead 2-0. Shelton saved a first match point at 5-3 on his serve before losing on the second, on Paul’s serve.
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