ATP 500 MUNICH. Germany By Leo Canaparo
Ben Shelton (World No. 15) powered his way into the final of the ATP 500 in Munich with a gritty comeback win over Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo (World No. 22), posting a 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 victory in a battle that highlighted the American’s growing maturity on clay.
It was Cerúndolo who came out swinging, landing 10 of 10 first serves and blitzing through the opening set with authority. For a moment, it looked like the Buenos Aires native might cruise into his second final of the year—he was a finalist in Buenos Aires back in February, falling to rising star Joao Fonseca.
But Shelton, known for his explosive game and fearless attitude, recalibrated. Despite trailing and facing a streak of eight straight losses to Argentine players in head-to-heads, the 22-year-old from Atlanta dug deep. He tightened up his baseline game, took full advantage of Cerúndolo’s 18 unforced errors, and turned the tide in a tense second set tiebreak.
From there, it was Shelton’s match to lose—and he didn’t blink. Cerúndolo fought to the last point, but Shelton’s mix of firepower and focus proved too much on the day.
This marks Shelton’s second career win over Cerúndolo, following a nail-biting encounter at Indian Wells earlier this season (7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(5)). That match, too, showcased Shelton’s growing knack for navigating the razor-thin margins of elite-level tennis.
As he heads into the Munich final, Shelton—already a two-time ATP title holder—continues to cement his place among the game’s most exciting young talents. His ceiling? It’s anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure: Ben Shelton is looking up.