American tennis stars Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will face off in an all-American final at the Stuttgart Open after both won their semifinal matches on Saturday.
Shelton Powers Past Draper
Ben Shelton booked his place in the final with a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Britain's Jack Draper. The big-serving left-hander fired 12 aces and saved the only break point he faced in a dominant serving display. Shelton broke Draper's serve once in each set to secure the win in one hour and 38 minutes.
“I'm really happy with how I played today,” Shelton said after the match. “Jack is a tough opponent, so I knew I had to be at my best. I served well and took my chances when they came.”
The 22-year-old American is seeking his second ATP title, having won his first in Tokyo last year. He will move into the top 20 of the world rankings for the first time on Monday regardless of the final result.
Fritz Cruises Past Musetti
Taylor Fritz, the top seed in Stuttgart, reached his first final of the year with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-4 win over Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. The world number 13 broke Musetti's serve three times and did not face a single break point in a clinical performance.
“I felt really solid from the baseline today,” Fritz said. “Lorenzo is a great player, but I was able to dictate the points and put pressure on him. I'm excited for the final against Ben.”
Fritz, 27, is chasing his seventh ATP title and his first on grass. He has a 2-1 head-to-head record against Shelton, with their most recent meeting coming at the 2023 US Open, where Fritz won in four sets.
All-American Final
Sunday's final will be the first all-American ATP final on grass since 1995, when Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi at the Queen's Club. It also marks the first time two American men have contested a grass-court final since Sampras and Agassi's rivalry on the surface.
Both players will be aiming to make a statement ahead of Wimbledon, which begins on July 1. Shelton is looking to build on his run to the quarterfinals at the All England Club last year, while Fritz is seeking his first deep run at a Grand Slam on grass.
The Stuttgart Open is a traditional warm-up event for Wimbledon and has been won in the past by players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
