Defending champion Shelton rolls into Montreal semis
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Defending champion Ben Shelton is on track to retain his Montreal Masters title after reaching the semi-finals.
PHOTO: AFP
MONTREAL – Ben Shelton took another step towards defending his ATP Montreal Masters title on Aug 11 with a 6-3, 6-1 quarter-final hammering of the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik for his 10th straight victory in Canada.
The world No. 10, the last top-10 player in the field, was never challenged by Mensik as he advanced to an Aug 12 semi-final against fellow American Learner Tien, who ousted Spain’s Daniel Merida 6-3, 6-2 in 72 minutes.
Shelton was on fire in his 72-minute outing, producing 18 winners and only three unforced errors.
“It felt great,” said the 23-year-old, who stands at 12-2 in Canada and has yet to lose a set at this edition.
“I was really happy with my return game; the way that I played from the ground from point one is where I want to be at. I think that the level I maintained throughout the match was really high, and if I was nitpicking at all, it was just the way I served at the end,” he added.
“I kind of lost the rhythm on my serve, but I’m super happy with the way that I played tonight and the performance I came up with. I hope to continue and build on these things in the semis.”
Tien knows he has a tough time ahead to reach the biggest final of his career when he faces fellow left-hander Shelton.
“No matter how Ben is feeling, he is going to serve well,” Tien, 20, said.
“He is going to hit a big ball off the baseline. He is playing with a lot of confidence right now. I saw him play earlier today. He is playing very, very well.”
Spanish teen Rafael Jodar booked a spot in the other semi-final in only his fifth ATP Masters 1000 event by holding off France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
The 19-year-old was scheduled to face the oldest remaining player, 25-year-old American Brandon Nakashima, for a place in the final on Aug 13.
Nakashima reached his breakthrough Masters semi-final in 77 minutes as he imposed his game on Luciano Darderi, 6-2, 6-3, setting up three match points with his 11th ace and winning after the Italian missed on a drop shot.
It is the first time since 1992 that three American men have reached the last four in Canada.
Jodar shrugged off a slight tweak to his ankle in the second set against Fils and remained calm throughout as his French opponent smashed a racket after being broken early in the second set.
Jodar, who turns 20 on Sept 17, has won 34 matches this season and risen to 15th in the world rankings, but sees improving his game as more important than his ranking.
“That shouldn’t be your primary thing and your goal,” he said. “My goal is to have fun on court and to enjoy all the tournaments that are new for me.”
Fils, back after injury, saved three match points in the final game before Jodar lanced a winner into the empty court in a match interrupted for an hour by rain.
“I played (at) a very high level today against a tough player like Arthur,” Jodar said. “I had to give my best to win this match.”
Nakashima, who won his fifth quarter-final of the season, credited his serve for the win.
“My serve was super important. It got me out of some tough holes,” he said.
“I also took my opportunities on return when I needed to. I knew I had to open up the court. He was hitting his spots really well.”
Nakashima, in his 16th career semi-final, put his confidence “at an all-time high” after his seventh victory in eight matches following a Washington semi-final run. AFP