First Top 20 win! "Thriving" Paul Jubb tops Ben Shelton from match point down in Mallorca

Paul Jubb and Billy Harris are having weeks to remember ahead of contesting their home major in reaching maiden ATP semifinals.

Jubb achieved the feat by squeaking past top seed Ben Shelton, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8), at the Mallorca Championships in a clash of former NCAA champions.

“It just kept getting better and better throughout the match. I was thriving out here tonight,” Jubb said on-court afterwards.

The 24-year-old qualifier, who starred at the University of South Carolina before turning pro, hadn’t dropped a set through four matches that included his first two tour-level victories.

Shelton forced a decisive tie-break after staving off three match points. He continued to ask the question when three more went unconverted by Jubb with 6-4 and 7-6 leads.

It was then the Brit’s turn to deny Shelton after the left-hander reached a match point of his own thanks to a crafty backhand drop shot winner. Locating a clutch first serve, Jubb was rewarded when Shelton framed his return. Two points later, Jubb clinched his first Top 20 win as Shelton misfired on a forehand to end the encounter after two hours and 44 minutes.

“This is obviously huge for me. Last year was so tough, injured most of the year,” he reflected. “I’ve been working very, very hard to get back to this point. This is kind of one of those visions you’ve had in your mind for a long time, being on these stages at these tournaments. This is what I’ve been working for, so a bit of relief that I’m here and I’ve done it.”

It just kept getting better and better throughout the match. I was thriving out here tonight. —Paul Jubb

Sebastian Ofner of Austria stands between Jubb and a shot at raising the trophy. Gael Monfils and Alejandro Tabilo will meet in the other semifinal.

Over in Eastbourne, Harris also came through three tough sets at the Rothesay International. Making the most of his wild card opportunity, the 29-year-old rallied to beat Flavio Cobolli, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-2, securing the only two breaks of the clash in the final set.

Harris faces Australian Max Purcell in Friday’s final four. Two-time champion Taylor Fritz, the No. 1 seed, lined up a meeting with Purcell’s compatriot Aleksandar Vukic following his 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) victory over Jerry Shang.