MATCH REPORT | 2024 ASB Classic: Taro DANIEL claims remarkable win over Ben SHELTON in Semis

Taro Daniel (No. 74) surprised Ben Shelton (No. 16) in an incredible 6-4, 7-6(9) semifinal match at the ASB Classic, reaching the second ATP final of his career. Few would have considered Daniel as one of the favorites in the ASB Classic, but the 30-year-old Japanese advanced quietly through the tournament. In the first round, he defeated the Australian Aleksander Vukic (No. 63) 7-5, 7-5; then, in the second round, he overcame the 8th seed Max Purcell (No. 45), and in the quarterfinals, he defeated the Frenchman Alexandre Müller (No. 79).

On the other hand, the American arrived as the top seed and, after advancing directly to the second round, secured impressive victories over the dangerous Fabian Marozsan (No. 65) with a score of 6-3, 6-4, and the Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena (No. 61) with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

The initial games of the match saw both players impeccable with their serves, and they faced no problems defending their service games. The first tense moment came in the eighth game with Daniel serving, where he had to save three break points to stay alive in the set.

With the match tied at 5-5, Shelton conceded the first couple of break opportunities to his opponent, who capitalized to take the lead and then closed the set 7-5 on his serve. In the first part of the set, Shelton seemed to dominate the match with more effectiveness in serving and better pressure on the return, but he did not capitalize on his chances, and Daniel was more efficient in crucial moments.

Neither player conceded break opportunities throughout the second set. Although Shelton found himself in trouble several times, he relied well on his first serve to keep everything level until the tie-break. Taro Daniel won the first mini-break of the tiebreak, taking a 2-0 lead, although Shelton quickly recovered with a mini-break back, gaining a 3-2 advantage. In a marathon tiebreak, Shelton saved two match points against him, and Daniel saved two set points against him, but Daniel ultimately prevailed on the 20th point of the tiebreaker.

Taro Daniel guaranteed his entry into the top 60 for the first time in his career, and if he becomes the champion, he will surpass the top 50 barrier. The Japanese player has only one ATP final in his career; in the 2018 Istanbul Open, he secured victory over the Tunisian Malek Jaziri (7-6, 6-4), marking his only title to date.

In the final, his opponent will be the winner of the match between the 6th seed Arthur Fils (No. 35) and the Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo (No. 82).