Big-hitting Shelton downs Humbert to win UTS Frankfurt

American Ben Shelton finished the weekend on a high when he beat Frenchman Ugo Humbert 19-10, 8-18, 15-11, 19-11 to win the UTS Frankfurt title.

The American – “The Mountain” served brilliantly on the pressure moments and produced a highlight reel of forehand winners as he got the better of “The Commander” and win his first UTS title and in the process, clinch a place in the eight-man field for the UTS Grand Final in London in December.

Humbert’s consolation is that he, too, will be in the field for London.

Shelton admitted his forehand had been at its very best. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen them like that either. I was pretty locked in, I just closed my eyes and swung. I guess today, I had it,” a jubilant Shelton said.

“I was pretty upset on court this morning (in his semi-final). I don’t know what came over me. I was just focusing on trying to have a lot of fun, hitting some hot shots. I think at the core of it, that’s what UTS is about, it’s for the crowd.”

Humbert starts strong but Shelton catches fire

Humbert began brilliantly as he took the opening quarter but Shelton upped his game in the second, ripping through it 18-8, much to the satisfaction of his father and coach, Bryan Shelton. “Wow, what a quarter. That’s the best quarter I’ve seen at UTS”.

The third quarter was tight throughout until, at 11-11, with Humbert having missed out on his bonus card, Shelton hammered an ace down the T to make it 14-11 with no time remaining. On the first “quarter point”, he then slashed a forehand down the line to win it 15-11.

Shelton was absolutely on fire in the fourth quarter, racing to an 18-5 lead. In quarter points, Humbert won six points in a row before Shelton finally clinched victory, the Frenchman’s slice drifting wide.

Shelton and Humbert join Andrey Rublev, Gael Monfils, Alexander Bublik and Alex de Minaur as automatic qualifiers for the UTS Grand Final. Two wildcards will be named in the coming week.

You might also like this

Brilliant Humbert downs Musetti to reach UTS Frankfurt final

tennis majors

Shelton recovers to beat Kokkinakis in sudden death and reach UTS Frankfurt final

tennis majors

UTS Frankfurt: Final Four set as Thiem says tearful farewell to Germany

tennis majors