Shelton powers into Swiss Indoors Basel final with strong serve

BASEL,Switzerland: American tennis sensation Ben Shelton advanced to the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel, defeating France’s Arthur Fils 6-3, 7-6 (9) on Saturday.

The 21-year-old showcased a formidable serve, winning 88 percent of his first-serve points (45 of 51) and avoiding any break points. This win snapped Fils’ 13-match winning streak in ATP 500 tournaments, cementing Shelton’s place as a rising force on the ATP tour.

In the Sunday final, Shelton will face another Frenchman, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who defeated fourth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark 7-6 (6), 6-4. Like Shelton, Mpetshi Perricard’s serve was a dominant factor; he won 87 percent of his first-serve points (33 of 38) and hit 17 aces, keeping Rune at bay with a relentless power game.