Shelton Eyes Citi Open Final After Stunning Tiafoe and Gaining Momentum
Ben Shelton is making some serious noise in Washington. The young American is into the semifinals of the ATP Washington Open, and after the way he played against Frances Tiafoe, it’s safe to say he’s riding high on confidence. This marks Shelton’s second time reaching the semis at this event, and the buzz around him is growing fast.
His most recent win came in straight sets over Tiafoe—a match that felt personal, considering Tiafoe had beaten Shelton in their thrilling US Open showdown last year. This time, Shelton flipped the script. He was dominant on serve, sharp on return, and just flat-out better in the big moments. The crowd loved it. It wasn’t just about power—he played smart tennis, taking his chances and pushing Tiafoe onto the back foot. And with every point, it felt like Shelton was growing into the role of a true headliner.
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Now, he’s set to face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who pulled off his own shocker by knocking out top seed Taylor Fritz. That match was a marathon. Davidovich Fokina was down 2-5 in the third set, and somehow clawed his way back to win it. But the cost? Nearly three hours in sweltering conditions, late into the night. It was a gritty, gutsy win—exactly what you expect from the Spaniard—but there’s no question that it took a toll.
That’s where Shelton might have the edge. He’s coming in fresher, sharper, and with the full support of the home crowd behind him. Sure, Davidovich Fokina leads their head-to-head 2-0, but the conditions, timing, and energy levels this time around all favor Shelton.
So now the question is—can Shelton take that next step and reach the final? The stage is set. He’s got the power, the crowd, and the momentum. If he plays the way he did against Tiafoe, especially with his serve clicking and his baseline game looking solid, he’s got every chance to pull it off.
The semifinal clash promises to be electric. And if Shelton continues this form, we could be seeing a new star really breaking through on home soil. Stay tuned—this could be a huge moment for American tennis.
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