Arthur Fils takes down defending champion Ben Shelton to reach Tokyo SF | ATP Tour
Matching Report
#NextGenATP Fils takes down defending champion Shelton, meets Rune in Tokyo SF
Humbert, Machac will meet in the second semi-final of the ATP 500 event
September 29, 2024
PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images
Arthur Fils playing with Ben Shelton in Tokyo
Written by Jerome Coombe
There will be a new champion in Tokyo after #NextGenATP star Arthur Fils upset defending champion Ben Shelton in a tense quarter-final at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.
The 20-year-old brought his ferocious tennis serve to outlast the explosive American, claiming a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) victory in three hours. Both players were forced to fight hard in their quest to reach the last four, but it was the Frenchman who held his nerve.
What. A. Match… 🤯
Phils cement their place in the semis with a 7-5 6-7 7-6(2) win against Shelton after a hard fought battle for both 👊@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/dn5150vXVl
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 29, 2024
Fils’ discipline was on full display under the lights as he smashed 58 winners en route to a statement victory, setting up a much-anticipated semi-final clash with Holger Rune, who saved a match point from home favorite Kei Nishikori.
With their Lexus ATP Head2Head series level at 1-1, their upcoming clash in the Japanese capital will be the first meeting on hard courts.
Earlier, Tomas Machac beat #NextGenATP talent Alex Michelsen, showing promising signs in his first Asian swing event. With a stylish 7-6(2), 6-3 victory, Machac is in his second ATP Tour semifinal in Tokyo.
Machac hit 34 winners according to Infosys ATP statistics during their one hour and 35 minute clash, eventually edging past Michelsen in the first exchange. The Czech also fired eight aces, won 88 percent of first game points and faced just one break point.
It was a commanding performance that marked his rise to No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings, backing up strong wins against Alexei Popyrin and Tommy Paul earlier in the week.
Michelsen, however, still holds second place in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and finds himself in a strong position to secure a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals for the second year in a row.
In the last four, Machac will face Ugo Humbert after Jack Draper was forced to withdraw from their clash with the leading Frenchman 7-5, 2-1.
The 22-year-old, who produced an encouraging US Open semi-final performance earlier this month, took time off to be ill with a stomach injury, but it didn’t work out as he called time on their first Lexus ATP Head2Head tournament. .
Humbert is into his 16th ATP Tour semi-final, seeking his third title of 2024 after wins in Marseille and Dubai took him to No. 13 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
