In a thrilling semifinal showdown at the BMW Open in Munich, 22-year-old American Ben Shelton carved out a slice of tennis history, battling past Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in a gripping 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 victory. The match, a rollercoaster of momentum swings and high-stakes drama, showcased Shelton’s resilience and growing prowess on clay, a surface where he’s still finding his footing. With this win, he became the first American man to reach a clay final above the ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi’s triumph in Rome in 2002, setting the stage for a blockbuster final against top seed Alexander Zverev.
The match began with Cerundolo, ranked No. 22, asserting dominance on the red dirt. The Argentine’s baseline precision and watertight serving—winning 100% of his first-serve points in the opening set—overwhelmed Shelton, who dropped the first set 6-2. Cerundolo’s topspin-heavy forehand and relentless consistency seemed to dictate the tempo, leaving Shelton scrambling. “It’s a big win for me,” Shelton later reflected, acknowledging the challenge of facing a clay-court specialist like Cerundolo. “To get a win on clay against a guy like that gives me a lot of confidence.”
Undeterred, Shelton regrouped in the second set, tapping into the fighting spirit that saved him from three match points in his first-round clash against Borna Gojo. The set boiled down to a nail-biting tiebreak, where Shelton twice stared down defeat, coming within two points of elimination. Displaying remarkable composure, he converted his fourth set point to level the match, igniting the Munich crowd. “I’m just competing and enjoying myself, that’s one thing that was lacking in Monte-Carlo last week,” Shelton said, hinting at a newfound mental clarity that fueled his comeback.
The deciding set saw Cerundolo strike early, breaking Shelton to take a lead. But the American, ranked No. 15, refused to fold. Capitalizing on an error-strewn game from Cerundolo in the 10th game, Shelton broke back and sealed the match after 2 hours and 7 minutes. Despite scoring fewer points overall (91 to Cerundolo’s 93), Shelton’s clutch performance on break points—converting 60% of his opportunities—proved decisive. “To be in an [ATP] 500 final over here in Europe, I’m really happy,” he said, savoring the milestone. “I love the energy here in Munich, and I’m going to go for that title tomorrow.”
Shelton’s journey in Munich has been a testament to his adaptability. After a first-round exit in Monte-Carlo, he’s embraced the nuances of clay, a surface that demands patience and versatility. “Not everything is straightforward and perfect on the clay,” he noted. “Dealing with adversity and adapting makes a great clay-court player, and I’m trying to learn day by day.” His 14-12 career record on clay is improving, bolstered by this run, which included wins over Luciano Darderi and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Cerundolo, meanwhile, exits Munich with his head held high. The fifth seed, who didn’t drop a set until this match, had been in scintillating form, dispatching Jan-Lennard Struff, Alexander Shevchenko, and David Goffin with ease. His 20-9 record this season, including a final in Buenos Aires, underscores his consistency. Yet, Shelton’s power and resolve proved too much, updating their head-to-head to 2-0 in the American’s favor.
As Shelton prepares to face Zverev, who holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge, the tennis world buzzes with anticipation. Can the young American, with his thunderous serve and fearless mentality, claim his first ATP 500 title? “I’ve been playing well here,” Shelton said, brimming with confidence. Munich awaits a final that promises fireworks.