Grass Showdown: Zverev Battles Shelton in Stutttgart Semis
Following Paris, Zverev advances to the semi-finals in Stuttgart.
Stuttgart (dpa) - German tennis sensation Alexander Zverev is one step away from the final in Stuttgart as he prepares for a showdown against Ben Shelton. Zverev secured his spot with a thrilling 7-6(8), 7-6(1) win against the American in their semifinal match.
Zverev, currently the top German player, battled it out in the sweltering heat to book his third appearance at this year's Boss Open, scheduled for Saturday. Shelton advanced after defeating Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
"This was a solid match on the grass, with the competition level higher today than yesterday," Zverev commented on his performance. "I'm pleased with how well I served today."
Zverev's Rock-solid Serve
The first set saw Zverev stumble early on, questioning his play with a raise of his arms and a shake of his head. However, he managed to escape a tiebreak situation in the final sprint. In the second set, Zverev took control after breaking Shelton at 3-2. He never relinquished his serve throughout the match.
Following his quarterfinal loss against Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic at the French Open, Zverev returns to the Weissenhof tournament after a six-year absence. As he gears up for Wimbledon, starting on June 30, Zverev acknowledged his progress, stating, "It's headed in the right direction, no matter the outcome."
Engel Bids Adieu with Respect
Meanwhile, the incredible run of 17-year-old Justin Engel came to an end, despite another impressive performance. Engel fell to Canadian top-30 player Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(3), 3-6 in the quarterfinals.
"I'm taking away that I can compete with the best and that dedicated training pays off. I'll keep pushing," Engel said after the match. He managed to remain competitive with the former top-ten player until midway through the second set before Auger-Aliassime's strong serves proved too much.
Before that, Engel celebrated surprise wins against Australian qualifier James Duckworth and American world number 35 Alex Michelsen. With this, he became the youngest grass-tour quarterfinalist since Boris Becker's Wimbledon victory 40 years ago.
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Enrichment Data:
Alexander Zverev faced Ben Shelton in a historical semifinal match at the 2025 Boss Open in Stuttgart, preparing for the upcoming Wimbledon Championships. Zverev emerged victorious, winning in tight tiebreaks, demonstrating exceptional grass-court play[4][3][2]. This triumph marked the end of a 8-year drought for Zverev, who last reached a grass-court final at Halle in 2017, losing to Roger Federer[3].
Ben Shelton's journey to the semifinals was momentous for American tennis, emphasizing the Stuttgart tournament's importance as a warm-up for Wimbledon[3]. Zverev's forthcoming challenge was the Boss Open final against Taylor Fritz, as both players aimed to generate momentum before the Wimbledon Grand Slam[2][3]. The Stuttgart tournament offered vital practice and confidence-building opportunities for top players like Zverev and Fritz as they transitioned focus towards Wimbledon[2][3].
Sports enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming clash between Zverev and Shelton in the Boss Open final, a highly anticipated tennis match on the grass court. Alexander Zverev demonstrated rock-solid serve and exceptional grass-court play to solidify his spot in the final, marking a significant milestone for his preparation for Wimbledon.
