French Next Gen player Arthur Fils battled past defending champion Ben Shelton 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2) in 3 hours in an entertaining quarter final match at the Japan Open in Tokyo. Shelton fended off 16 of the 19 break points he faced.
Shelton saved two match points when Fils first served for the match at 7-5 6-5. Shelton broke back before earning the second-set tie-break.
Shelton hit four consecutive aces to draw level to 2-2 in the third set.
Shelton hit a forehand down the line to force the match to the tie-break. Fils hit a drop volley winner off a serve and volley before firing an ace to open up a 4-1 lead. Fils earned a match point at 6-2 with another forehand volley. The Frenchman closed out the match on a backhand error from Shelton.
Fils ended Shelton’s seven-match winning streak denying the US player his bid to become the first player since Pete Sampras to successfully defend the Japan Open title.
Both players battled through cramps, but Fils held his nerve to win the match setting up a match against Holger Rune, who fought off a match point to beat Kei Nishikori 3-6 6-2 7-5.
Fils has drawn level to 1-1 in his head-to-head matches against Shelton.
Tomas Machac beat US qualifier Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to set up a match against Frenchman Ugo Humbert. Machac hit 34 winners, won 88% of his first serve points and faced just one break point.
Machac converted his second break point in the first game of the opening set, but Michelsen broke back to draw level to 1-1. Machac earned the first mini-break at the start of the tie-break, but Michelsen pulled back on serve on the next point. Machac won five consecutive points to win the tie-break 7-2. Michelsen saved five break points to hold serve at deuce. Machac earned the decisive break in the eighth game and served out the win on his first match point. Machac reached his second ATP Tour semifinal. The Czech player is 14-1 in his head-to-head matches against US players since the 2023 Miami Open.
