Overview

• Ben Shelton advanced to the BMW Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Luciano Darderi, marking his second clay-court semifinal appearance in two years.
• Shelton became the first American man to reach an ATP 500 clay-court semifinal since the format's inception in 2009, highlighting a historic achievement for U.S. tennis on clay.
• The World No. 15 has demonstrated significant growth on clay, improving his movement and strategy after early struggles on the surface in his career.
• Shelton’s path to the semifinals included wins over Borna Gojo and Botic van de Zandschulp, showcasing his ability to adapt and excel on European red clay.
• He will face Francisco Cerundolo in the semifinals, aiming to build on his momentum and secure a spot in his first final of the season.