Ben Shelton is making waves at the Swiss Indoors in Basel. Advancing to the semifinals after defeating top seed Andrey Rublev in a gripping quarter-final match. Shelton showcased his powerful serve and clutch play, delivering a flawless performance. Clinching yet another victory that is especially significant after a challenging season that saw him drop from No. 13 to No. 23 in the rankings. With renewed confidence, it looks like he’s found his fire!

On the indoor hard courts, Shelton showcased his resilience and skill. The 22-year-old American was dominant on serve, firing off 13 aces and saving all six break points he faced. He also converted both break points against Andrey Rublev, which proved crucial in the match’s outcome. Ultimately winning the match with a score of 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-4. This marks his fifth Top 10 win! To celebrate, his younger sister, Emma Shelton, shared TennisTV’s post on her Instagram story with an enthusiastic “Let’s go!” and a fire emoji, perfectly capturing her brother’s fiery performance.

After the match, Ben Shelton reflected on his journey, he said, “I knew this was a big one for me. I’ve struggled a lot this year in quarter-finals against Top 10 players,” referencing his earlier defeats. Shelton has faced a challenging season, struggling with consistency and early exits in several tournaments. Despite showing promise with a semifinal appearance at the Citi Open. He was faced with a disappointing second-round loss at the Canadian Open and struggled with injuries. Which had affected his form throughout the year. “It’s been a tough hump to overcome, but to finally do it in the second to last week of the year is huge for me.”

Before facing Rublev, Shelton secured his spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Stan Wawrinka in a hard-fought match winning with a score of 7(7)-6(2), 7-5. This marked his second consecutive victory over the three-time Grand Slam champion. Despite his success, Shelton remained humble, expressing admiration for Wawrinka’s competitive spirit in a post-match interview.

“Shout out to Stan!”, Ben tips his hat to Wawrinka with a heartwarming comment

During the match, the crowd was on the edge of their seats as Shelton showcased his powerful serve and clutch play against the 39-year-old Swiss legend. But that wasn’t the only thing that made him stand out. In his post-match interview, Shelton reflected on their friendly banter before the match, saying, “He’s been on tour as much as I’ve lived!”

The 22-year-old American showed great sportsmanship. While taking down an icon who started his career around the time Shelton was born. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist, has left an indelible mark on tennis, and Shelton acknowledged that with respect. When asked about the loud crowd support for Wawrinka, Shelton merely embraced the atmosphere, “I had to smile at times today because obviously it’s against me,” he said. “But it’s so cool to see a country and tournament get behind a guy like that who’s been such an icon.”

Looking ahead, Ben Shelton is set to face Arthur Fils in the semi-finals. He describes him as one of his best friends on tour and a significant rival among the younger players. “He’s playing incredible tennis right now, and there’s no one I’d rather match up against on Saturday here in Basel. I’m looking for some revenge,” Shelton said, clearly fired up for the upcoming clash. The two were spotted joking around on the Swiss Indoor Basel Instagram story. Which only adds to the excitement for the upcoming face-off between the two!