Ben Shelton captured his second career ATP Tour title, outlasting defending champion Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 on Sunday to win the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship. (More Tennis News)
Shelton, 21, had 11 aces on the way to becoming the youngest player to win this event since Andy Roddick did it at 19 years old in 2002.
Shel😼ton has had his issues on clay courts. He was 2-7 in his career on the slower surꦿface and had lost his last five clay-court matches before starting tournament play this week.
But Shelton survived three three-set matches to take the title, his first sinc🎀e winning in Tokyo this past October.
The former Florida Gator standout won 83% of his first-serve points according to Infosys ATP Stats to triumph after 2 hours, 16 minutes.
He and Tiafoe are friends who h🍒ad joking andꦓ kind words for each other after the match.
“I know this one stings," Shel✤ton said. "Sorry you didn't win back-to-back titles, but you're that type of player who can go back-to-back. I want to see you do it again this year."
Tiafoe💯 said it was great playing in💛 a final after a difficult start to the year.
“It would have been cool to get number four," he said. "We'll get that soon enougౠh. 🙈Let's really build on this and let's have a good '24.”
Shelton is expected to rise to N✅o. 14 in next week's rankinꩵgs.
