Tommy Paul, first American to reach the semifinals since Roddick in 2009

Tommy Paul became the first American to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open since Andy Roddick in 2009, after beating compatriot Ben Shelton 7-6(6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a match that lasted three hours and six minutes.

Paul will be the last U.S. representative in a draw that gathered up to four tennis players from this country in the round of 16 (Sebastian Korda, Tommy Paul, JJ Wolf and Ben Shelton).

“It’s the first time I’ve played on this field and in a quarter-final, and also the first time Ben has left the United States to play,” he said after the game ended, referring to a Ben Shelton who had a great delivered performance. performing in what was his first tournament outside his native country.

The tennis player from New Jersey, who defeated the Spanish Roberto Bautista (24) in the eighth finals, will compete in the semifinals against the winner of the duel between the Serbian Novak Djokovic (4) and the Russian Andrey Rublev (5). , who will play in the night session at the Rod Laver Arena.

Paul ended what was 20-year-old Ben Shelton’s best week as a professional tennis player after agreeing to reach the quarter-finals of a slam in what was his second appearance in a tournament with these characteristics.

His Grand Slam debut came at the recent US Open when he lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges in five sets in the first round.

The attractive conditions offered by the afternoon in Melbourne Park, with a blazing sun and a temperature of 30 degrees, were not enough to attract a timid crowd that was far from filling the capacity of the Rod Laver Arena.

The Americans delighted the Australian fans with an even first set that fell in the tiebreaker on the side of a Paul who was more complete by committing six fewer errors and embroidering a first serve that scored 90% of the points.

Paul continued in the second without allowing free runs to an opponent who was losing steam serving, going from 59% to 50% of the first serve in the game.

The New Jersey man made a break when the score was 3-2 in his favor and led a second set that would score 6-3.

Paul’s warmth and consistency made for a very tough fight for a Shelton who was ranked 569th on the ATP list a year ago and didn’t even play as the first seed for the University of Florida team.

Aware of the importance of the appointment, however, he didn’t give up and answered with an ‘in extremis’ double-break to break the deficit and score the set 7-5.

The young man from Atlanta roused a crowd lethargic by the intense southern heat and stuck his finger in his ear to enlist their support as a fourth set would be final.

Paul got an early break in the fourth set and would hold onto the lead until the final 6-4.

Paul’s order, repetition and great service prevailed over the improvisation and interrupted tennis of a young Shelton who showed a glimpse of a potential that could reach high quotas if he continued with the work, and the ensuing improvement, which brought him to the top. quarter-finals of the ‘major aussie’.