Fritz sets up all-American Stuttgart final against Shelton, chasing back-to-back titles
Taylor Fritz is one win from defending his Stuttgart ATP title after a clean semifinal victory. The American faces world No. 5 Ben Shelton in Sunday's final, in what serves as a key Wimbledon warm-up.
Fritz on the verge of history
Taylor Fritz moved within one win of becoming the first repeat champion in Stuttgart since Thomas Muster in 1995–96. The 28-year-old brushed aside Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6:4, 6:4 in the semifinals on Saturday, extending his strong form on grass ahead of Wimbledon at the end of June.
It's always cool to defend the title. It would be, like last year, my first title of the year – and to start the grass season like that would be great.
Shelton survives a marathon day
His opponent, Ben Shelton, endured a gruelling path to the final. The top seed first had to complete his rain-delayed quarterfinal against Japan's Sho Shimabukuro, rallying from a set down to win 4:6, 6:3, 6:4. Immediately afterwards, Shelton edged Jiri Lehecka in a three-tiebreak battle lasting nearly three hours: 6:7 (4:7), 7:6 (16:14), 7:6 (8:6). The second-set tiebreak alone tested the nerves of both players.
- Fritz defeats Bublik 6:4, 6:4 in the semifinals.
- Shelton completes quarterfinal vs Shimabukuro: 4:6, 6:3, 6:4.
- Shelton beats Lehecka in three tiebreaks: 6:7(4), 7:6(14), 7:6(6).
- Singles final: Taylor Fritz vs Ben Shelton. Doubles final: Hanfmann/Struff vs Sakellaridis/Glinka.
Grass suits the American game
Fritz believes the surface plays to his strengths. His serve and backhand, he suggested, are rewarded by the fast conditions. Shelton's power game has also translated well, setting up an all-American showdown that underlines the depth of US men's tennis on grass.
Grass suits my serve, it suits my backhand.
German hopes in the doubles
Local interest remains alive in the doubles final. Yannick Hanfmann and Jan-Lennard Struff will face Stefanos Sakellaridis of Greece and Estonia's Daniil Glinka on Sunday at 11:30. Sakellaridis and Glinka upset top seeds Nikola Mektic and Francisco Cabral 6:2, 4:6, and a match tiebreak. Both Hanfmann and Struff had exited the singles competition in the round of 16.
