Saturday's tennis acca tips: Ben Shelton to miss out on Houston final to clay expert

A rerun of the 2023 final is on the cards in Houston with Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Frances Tiafoe each one win away from booking another big match clash at the US Men's Clay Court Championships.

Etcheverry takes on Tiafoe's compatriot, Ben Shelton, leaving open the possibility of an All-American final.

In Charleston, there is also a chance of seeing home hopes on either side of the net in the championship match with American No 2 Jessica Pegula and reigning Miami Open champion Danielle Collins each one win away from a final.

Here we make our picks for semi-final winners in Estoril, Houston, Bogota and Charleston.

 

ATP Estoril: Cristian Garin vs Hubert Hurkacz | Pick: Garin

ATP Estoril: Casper Ruud vs Pedro Martinez Portero | Pick: Ruud

ATP Houston: Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry | Pick: Etcheverry

ATP Houston: Frances Tiafoe vs Luciano Darderi | Pick: Tiafoe

WTA Bogota: Sara Errani vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano | Pick: Serrano

WTA Bogota: Marie Bouzkova vs Kamilla Rakhimova | Pick: Bouzkova

WTA Charleston: Jessica Pegula vs Daria Kasatkina | Pick: Pegula

WTA Charleston: Maria Sakkari vs Danielle Rose Collins| Pick: Collins

 

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ATP Estoril: Cristian Garin vs Hubert Hurkacz

Cristian Garin and Hubert Hurkacz haven't met since a 2018 Wimbledon qualifying clash.

Garin came out on top on the All England club's grass courts and he might have the edge on clay.

Garin has played over 470 matches on the surface and maintains a win rate well above 50%.

Hurkacz has struggled to keep a winning record on clay in recent seasons even if he has enjoyed a good run in Portugal.

 

ATP Estoril: Casper Ruud vs Pedro Martinez Portero

Casper Ruud remains on track to defend his Estoril title with just Pedro Martinez Portero standing between him and another final.

Ruud beat Martinez at Kitzbuhel in 2021 in the only head-to-head singles clash between these players.

Ruud clearly enjoys playing in Estoril as he keeps his streak going and chases an 11th career title.

Martinez is handy on clay, but that won't give him an edge over Ruud, who plays as well on the surface as just about everyone on tour.

 

ATP Houston: Ben Shelton vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry

Home favourite Ben Shelton stands between Tomas Martin Etcheverry and another final in Houston.

Etcheverry has the added benefit of taking part in the South American swing on clay while Shelton was turning out in hard court events.

Shelton is ranked higher than Etcheverry, but that will count for little in a contest like this.

The American will have the backing of the crowd but an experienced professional like Etcheverry won't be thrown off by a few jeers.

 

ATP Houston: Frances Tiafoe vs Luciano Darderi

Frances Tiafoe faces a potentially tricky semi-final against Italy's Luciano Darderi.

Darderi won the title on Cordoba a few weeks ago for a big ATP Tour breakthrough and is fast making himself a man to watch on the clay swing.

Tiafoe last won a title here in Houston and will be out to kickstart his campaign, having been overshadowed by a few of his countrymen so far this term.

Darderi has spent an extra two hours on court this week, but the 22-year-old hasn't shown signs of flagging and blew past Marcos Giron in an assured quarter-final win. However, he might come up short this time.

 

WTA Bogota: Sara Errani vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano

Maria Camila Osorio Serrano carries the home hopes in Bogota and faces unseeded Italian Sara Errani for a place in the final.

While this will be their first full WTA Tour clash, Errani owns W80 and W60 wins over the Colombian.

Serrano is chasing her second career title and what would be a very special title win in Bogota.

While Errani has won previous meetings, the 36-year-old is nearing the twilight of her career and would do well to turn aside the ambition of her opponent. 

 

WTA Bogota: Marie Bouzkova vs Kamilla Rakhimova

Marie Bouzkova has an advantage in experience over 22-year-old Russian Kamilla Rakhimova and looks like a strong candidate to reach the championship match.

Bouzkova is also out to win her second WTA Tour title and first of the current season.

Rakhimova has endured a tough start to her campaign and has threatened to drop out of the top 100.

The Russian up-and-comer has battled through a trio of three-setters to reach this stage, playing two more sets than Bouzkova through the week.

 

WTA Charleston: Jessica Pegula vs Daria Kasatkina

Jessica Pegula holds a 2-0 career head-to-head lead over Daria Kasatkina ahead of their Charleston showdown.

Pegula was a semi-finalist in Charleston last season before Belinda Bencic bested her, and the American will want to produce her best run in Charleston.

Kasatkina is hovering just outside the top ten and has enjoyed decent results this term, but she has lost a few important matches.

Pegula has been tested in her Charleston run and looks like the favourite to win the tournament.

 

WTA Charleston: Maria Sakkari vs Danielle Rose Collins

Maria Sakkari and Danielle Collins will contest the other Charleston Open semi-final, in what will be their fourth career meeting.

Sakkari leads the rivalry 2-1, though it was Collins who came out on top the last time they met.

Collins is on a ten-match winning streak and is in the form of her life after her big Miami title win.

Sakkari has been in top form herself in 2023, but Collins is set to ride her momentum into another final.