Shelton digs deep to set up all-American Stuttgart final against Fritz

June 13 : Ben Shelton saved two match points against Czech player Jiri Lehecka to set up an all-American final against Taylor Fritz in the Stuttgart Open on Saturday.

The world number five showed real staying power to win 6-7(4) 7-6(14) 7-6(6) having been forced to earlier finish off his quarter-final against Sho Shimabukuro.

"Sometimes tennis doesn’t go to plan," Shelton said after his third three-set win of the week at the ATP grasscourt event. "I lost the first set in every single match I played.

"But there are a lot of ways to win a match. I've been choosing the most difficult route."

Shelton saved his match points in a marathon second-set tiebreak on his way to a two-hour-52-minute victory.

"I'm very tired but excited to be playing him in another final," said Shelton, who is seeking a third title of the season.

Reigning champion Fritz had things easier as he beat the unpredictable Alexander Bublik 6-4 6-4, banging down 13 aces.

At the Libema Open in Hertogenbosch, Australia's Alex de Minaur beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4 6-0 to set up a final against Kamil Majchrzak who beat Daniil Medvedev.

Poland's Majchrzak won 7-6(4) 6-1 to reach his first ATP Tour singles final.