Now that we’re nearly halfway through the spring European clay season, its time to get an update and see how our Florida-based pros are doing on the dirt. So far, our hometown players have racked up some good results including a few titles, and there is a newly-crowned American No. 1 man. Let’s unpack it all…
Gainesville’s Ben Shelton the New American No. 1
Former Florida Gator Ben Shelton arrived in Houston as the top seed in early April to play in the clay court tournament which offers up 250 points to the victor. Normally, a tournament of this size is not defining when it comes to major ranking shifts, especially inside the top ten. But as March finished up, then-ranked #8 Taylor Fritz, who has a home base in Miami, had found himself just ten points ahead of Shelton, meaning that the 23-year-old would only need to win one match in Texas to secure the top-man status.
Above: Ben Shelton. Photo credit: ©On.
The American took on Zhizhen Zhang in his opening test, a match that, on paper, should have been a very easy win for Shelton. Top seed, home favorite, and facing a player who has limited experience on red clay. The odds were certainly in the lefty’s favor, but Zhang was able to make things much more complicated. Despite Shelton’s barrage of 21 aces, Zhang narrowed in on defending his own service games, using the power he has with a devastating slice to slide Shelton around and keep his energy at bay. With that formula, it’s no surprise that the match went to two tiebreaks. But it was in the big moments where Shelton, the more experienced man under the spotlight, thrived and was able to find his best tennis. He won the match, losing five points in the first breaker and three in the second.
Now, midway through April, Shelton find himself ranked #6, on spot off his career high, and two places ahead of his compatriot. However, it’s only 30 ranking points that separate them, so a deep run for Fritz in Rome or Roland Garros could help him re-establish himself on the throne.
Pegula Captures Charleston Title
Boca-Raton residing Jessica Pegula has always thrived on the green clay of Charleston, where she is known for making late runs including some semi-final appearances starting a few years ago. Recently, however, she’s taken things a step further in South Carolina, and is now the first back-to-back Charleston champ since Serena Williams in 2013. This year, she faced stiff competition including some younger names who have been making waves on the WTA tour, but was able to pull through against an unlikely contender in the final.
Above: Jessica Pegula. Photo credit: Credit One Charleston Open.
The 32-year-old kicked things off against Yulia Putintseva, who nabbed the first set to put the defending champ in danger, 6-4. Pegula responded well, settling into her game to take the next two, 6-4, 7-5, and progress to the round of 16. Up next was Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who, despite being seeded #14th, has plenty of experience of this surface which often give non-natives trouble. She proved that in the first set, firing down blistering serves and finding a way to win nearly every point to win the first set, 6-1. An obviously-flustered Pegula needed to get things together, and she took more time in the second set to work her way into points, slowing things down and forcing the Italian to make the errors. This bought her the second, 6-1, and she continued the momentum into the third and won it in nail-biting fashion, 7-6(1).
Pegula faced similar problems against Diana Shaider, who won the first set as well. But once again, the experienced American was able to prevail to reach the semifinals. She took on 4th seed Iva Jovic, and was finally able to win the first set, 6-4. Things were exceptionally close in the second, until a few loose errors gave Jovic a break of serve and the second, 7-5. With potentially an extra hour of court time now added to Pegula’s tally, she was able to speed up the pace a bit more in the third and win it, 6-3. Her final contestant was not a familiar foe, instead, Yuliia Starodubtseva, who was enjoying a fairytale run on the green clay, was waiting on the other side of the net. Despite the momentum Pegula had to counter, she knew what it took to win the tournament and play her best tennis in the big moments. And she got things firing early, taking a quick break and never looking back to win 6-2, 6-2, and secure another big trophy to add to her cabinet.
Paul Wins First Clay Title in Houston
It is honestly surprising that Boca Raton-based Tommy Paul hasn’t been victorious at a clay court tournament yet, as he generates high RPM on his shots which fit well with the slower surface and had great success on the surface early in his career, winning the Junior French Open. With only four wins needed to change this, fourth seed Tommy Paul got down to business in Houston and played through some tough matches to get a well-deserved win.
Above: Tommy Paul. Photo credit: Mauricio Paiz.
Things started out sloppily, as Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, the first man from Paraguay in the top one hundred, took the first set off Paul after winning his first match against Zach Svajda earlier that week. Paul responded well, giving himself one break of separation to win the next two sets, 6-4, 6-4. He had an easier battle against clay-native Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who he struck down 6-4, 6-2. That good win gave him good preparation for what was to come in a close semifinal encounter.
Waiting for him in the final four was Boca Raton-based Frances Tiafoe, friend and fellow American, who was seeded 2nd in the event. Paul scraped by in the first, winning it 7-5, before Tiafoe fought back to win the second, 6-4. In rival fashion, the two forced each other into a tiebreak to seal the deal in the final set, and Paul was able to escape barely, securing his spot in the final, 9-7. His final challenge was another Argentinian, Roman Andres Burruchaga, who didn’t do much in the first set with Tommy Paul storming into the second, 6-1. But he was able to do much better in the second, improving his serve stats to tie things up, 6-3. On a good path, Burruchaga continued his run into the third and found himself up three match points up at 5-3, with Paul serving. The American was able to stay incredibly mentally strong, pounding down the next three to stay in it, and eventually breaking back to even the score at 5-5. He then held again, and an antsy Burruchaga let a few shots go and Paul was able to take advantage of that an win the match, 7-5. With this win, the Boca-Raton boy has some good results to back up a potentially deep run at Roland Garros next month.
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Written by Will Turvey