The Houston clay-court event this week might be called the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship, but let's be clear: The event this week has belonged as much to the Argentinian players at the event as the Americans. That continued when Thiago Agustin Tirante took on Ben Shelton in the quarterfinal.
If one didn't know any better, one might assume that Tirante was a top-10 player with his huge forehand and quality serve that made it difficult for Shelton to even get to a break point against him. In reality, Tirante simply knows how to play well on clay and all of its black magic.
The Argentine is 24 years old and has never ranked better than 74. Shelton, of course, has been a top-10 player and has his own great forehand and serve, but he appeared to be the weaker player for most of the match.
Thiago Agustin Tirante defeats Ben Shelton at the US Men's Clay Court Championship
Sure, Shelton took the first set in a tie-break 7-5, but no game was easy. Neither player even faced a break point. Again, one might have wondered how Tirante had never made inroads inside the top 50. He's never made it past the second round at the French Open or out of qualifiers at other clay-court events such as the Madrid or Italian Masters.
He was extremely difficult on Shelton, however, pushing the American from side to side and covering the court himself with ease. In set two, he made that pay off with a break of Shelton to even the match at a set apiece.
In the third set, the American had a chance to break the Argentine with an easy overhead but hit the ball into the net. As chances to gain an edge had been difficult all match for Shelton, his missed opportunity seemed set up to doom him in the end.
The third set stayed even through the first eight games as each kept playing efficient tennis, with Tirante a tick better. He pressed Shelton on the American's serve at 4-all, getting two break points, and converting on the second. That would be all he would need to take the set 6-4.
For the match, Shelton didn't play poorly with 36 winners and 33 unforced errors, but he did match Tirante's 30 and 20, respectively. The Argentine may have announced himself as a threat on the clay to the rest of the tour, including the Grand Slam in Paris.
Next up for ... will be another Argentine, Roman Andres Burruchaga, ranked No. 77 on the ATP tour, who defeated American Learner Tien in his quarterfinal match. A nation involved in the Davis Cup might want to hope the final is never held on Houston clay, or Argentina might easily sweep away the field.