Twenty-one-year-old American Ben Shelton won the first ATP final in the Open Era (since 1968) to feature two Black American men, defeating 26-year-old Frances Tiafoe, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, to win the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship on Sunday in Houston. Shelton will rise to a new career-high ranking of No. 14 in tomorrow’s rankings.
Shelton and Tiafoe also made history at the 2023 US Open, advancing to play each other in the quarterfinals, marking the first time in the Open Era that two Black American men had reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam.
Danielle Collins also lifted her second trophy in as many weeks on Sunday by winning the Credit One Charleston Open. On the heels of her Miami Open title last week, Collins defeated Daria Kasatkina, 6-2, 6-1, on Sunday in Charleston to win her 13th consecutive match and rise to No. 15 in the world rankings on Monday.
RESULTS – Sunday, April 7, 2024
Singles Championship
[1] Ben Shelton (USA) d. [3] Frances Tiafoe (USA) 7-5 4-6 6-3
NOTES
– Ben Shelton claimed his second career title, defeated defending champion Frances Tiafoe in three sets at River Oaks Country Club Sunday.
– Shelton is the seventh American champion in the last 10 editions of the tournament.
– At 21-years-old, Shelton is the youngest US Clay champion since 19-year-old Andy Roddick in 2002.
– Shelton is the second member of his family to win the singles title at River Oaks. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, was a River Oaks champion in 1992.
– Shelton is now 2-0 in ATP finals, having claimed his first last fall in Tokyo.
– With the title, Shelton is projected to be a career high No. 14 in Monday’s ATP Rankings.
– Tiafoe, 26, was looking to be the first repeat US Clay champion since Steve Johnson in 2017-18.
– Tiafoe has reached eight career finals and has won three titles.
– This was the 10th US Clay final in the Open Era, and fourth since the tournament moved to River Oaks in 2008, to feature a pair of Americans.
– The 2025 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship will be held March 29-April 6 at River Oaks Country Club.
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