Ben Shelton Advances at the French Open
Ben Shelton advanced to the fourth round of the French Open over the weekend, marking a significant step in his tennis career. However, his journey came to an end on Sunday when he faced off against Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 2 and reigning champion of the tournament. Despite the challenge, Shelton managed to capture a set, which extended the match and made it a harder-fought battle for Alcaraz: the final score was 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Match Highlights
In the initial stages, Shelton exhibited his capability by matching Alcaraz point for point, narrowly losing the first set in a tiebreak and then missing a crucial break opportunity in the second. It was in the third set where Shelton demonstrated his prowess by breaking Alcaraz’s serve twice, but ultimately, he could not maintain the momentum and succumbed in the fourth.
“I felt like it was the most pressure I’ve applied. I was very comfortable in the baseline rallies, and my open-stance backhand felt strong today,” Shelton reflected after his match, recognizing the better moments he managed against a top-tier opponent like Alcaraz, who now leads their head-to-head encounters 3-0.
Player Reflections
Following the match, Alcaraz gave a nod of respect to Shelton, who, despite being just 22 years old, is on a different development path, having opted for a collegiate experience over a straight transition into professional tennis.
“We both played a very complete style of tennis—lots of drop shots, net play, and powerful shots. Ben brings wonderful energy to the court, and I truly enjoyed competing against him today,” Alcaraz said.
Future Prospects
Shelton’s fourth-round appearance at Roland-Garros this year surpasses his exit in the third round from the previous year, signalling his upward trajectory in the sport. Earlier this year, he reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, showcasing ongoing improvement in his game. Upcoming challenges await as he prepares for Wimbledon later this month, aiming for further advancement after his recent success.
Following his performance in France, Shelton is set to climb back to No. 12 in the ATP rankings, matching his career-best position achieved earlier this year. In order to solidify a top-10 ranking, he will need to conquer more elite players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
His grass court season kicks off in June, with scheduled participation in events in Germany, the UK, and Spain leading up to Wimbledon. Fans can keep track of his progress and insights on social media platforms, including X and Facebook.
