MUNICH, April 16, 2025
Ben Shelton has maintained US-American presence in the BMW Open by bitpanda quarterfinals for the third straight year following in the footsteps of Taylor Fritz (2023-24) and Marcos Giron (2024). The second-seeded Atlanta native defeated Dutch lucky loser and two-time Munich runner-up Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(1), 6-3 on Wednesday.
Shelton capitalized on all of his three break-point chances and won 56 per cent of the total points played to advance in one hour and 29 minutes.
On the hunt for a third title in Munich @AlexZverev reaches the Quarter-Finals as he beats fellow German Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-2 #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/bOvNJKC4TR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 16, 2025
“I’m very happy,” said the 22-year-old Shelton, in front of the crowd on a packed Center Court at the MTTC Iphitos. He has become the youngest US-American quarterfinalist in Munich since Jim Courier in 1990.
“I love playing in Germany –especially in Munich – but there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Darderi downs Kecmanovic
Next, Shelton will face Luciano Darderi for the first time on Friday. The 23-year-old Italian, who arrived in Munich fresh from his second ATP Tour title win in Marrakesh, Morocco, continued his good run of form on Center Court. After beating Australian lucky loser Christopher O’Connell in the first round, he rallied past Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in two hours and 29 minutes.
“It was an amazing match,” Darderi said afterwards. “I won the title last week, currently playing well on clay and I hope to continue like this. Miomir is an amazing fighter. I lost to him this year in January, but I built up confidence. I am very happy with my performance.”
The World No. 47 is competing at the BMW Open by bitpanda for the first time but knows the Greater Munich area very well. In August 2024, he led the Tennis Club Großhesselohe from Pullach to their first team triumph in the German Tennis Bundesliga.
“The conditions and the altitude suit my game. I often play here Bundesliga over the weekends. We have German and Italian fans. It’s a great support,” said Darderi, who was born in the coastal town of Villa Gesell, Argentina. His physio is Italian, and he is coached by his father Luciano, who is also with him in Munich. Within the team they switch between Spanish and Italian in their communication.
Zverev wins all-German encounter
Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev remained untroubled in his match against fellow German Daniel Altmaier. The top seed of the newly upgraded ATP 500 event didn’t win in spectacular fashion but, rather, in a solid way. Zverev broke his rival four times and won 58 per cent of the total points played to succeed in one hour and 19 minutes.
Quarter-Final bound @BenShelton advances to the last eight in Munich as he beats Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6 6-3 #BMWOpen pic.twitter.com/mVvWqyFtoG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 16, 2025
“Daniel knows how to make it complicated. His shots may seem off at times, but he knows how to make it extremely complicated for the top guys, where we feel like we’re not feeling the ball well. So, I’m extremely happy with the win and looking forward to the next match,” said Zverev, who earned his third victory over Altmaier in the pair’s fourth meeting. The World No. 3 was very successful at the net, winning 16 of his 18 points. “He returns from extremely far back, which gives me more opportunities to come in, trying to finish the points off there. I did that well today.”
Zverev will next take on Tallon Griekspoor, who edged past German wild card entry Yannick Hanfmann 7-6(3), 6-3 in one hour and 30 minutes. Zverev leads the head-to-head series with the Dutchman 6-2 but lost in their last meeting in Indian Wells in three hard-fought sets.
