Taro Daniel battled past Ben Shelton 7-5 7-6 (11-9) to reach his second ATP Tour final at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Daniel scored the fifth top 20 win of his career.
Daniel won 81% of his first serve points and 62% of his second serve points. The Japanese player saved all three break points he faced.
Shelton did not convert on any of his three break points he earned.
Daniel broke Shelton in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead and converted his third set point in the 12th game.
The second set went on serve en route to the tie-break. Shelton was not able to convert two set points at 7-6 and 9-8 before Daniel sealed the win on his third match point after 2 hours and 5 minutes as Shelton missed putting a forehand into the corner.
“There is tendency to get really excited in those moments and anxious as well. I wanted to not change the way I play and keep doing what I have been doing. There is a lot of energy from the crowd and there is a tendency to want to use that and hit a really big shot, but you have got to calm down”, said Daniel.
Shelton is a taking a long-term approach to tennis and is still learning from it.
“I was happy with my commitment to playing and aggressive style of tennis. Coming forward a lot, using my serve and volley. Certain things I did not execute at the highest level today that I would have wanted to. Key volleys on tpp of the net on key points, but I felt like in the big moments, the match or the point was my raquet, which is where I want to be. Some execution errors here or there and him coming up with great passing shots, great ground strokes all day, there is a lot to learn from the match but I will keep moving forward”, said Shelton.
Daniel set up a final against Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo, who upset Arthur Fils 6-2 7-5. Tabilo saved six of the seven break points he faced.
Tabilo is the first Chilean player to reach a hard-court tour level final since Fernando Gonzales advanced to the 2008 Olympic final in Beijing. Tabilo climbed to a career-high of world number 59 in the ATP Rankings.
Tabilo came through two qualifying rounds and three main draw matches to reach his second career final.
Tabilo cruised through the first set with two breaks in the third and seventh games. He came back from 2-5 down in the second set to draw level to 5-5 and served for the match at 6-5. Fils saved three match points in a 17-minute 12th game before Tabilo sealed the win on his fourth opportunity.
“It’s been almost two years since I was able to get to a final and I also came from the qualifying round. I have seen Arthur play a lot on tour. He is very intense, big hitter, so I knew I had to come out swinging, be very intense and make him play every ball”, said Tabilo.
