Shelton Reaches Quarterfinals, Marks 100th Tour-Level Match with Dramatic Comeback Win
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – January 20, 2025 – Rising American star Ben Shelton has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian open, securing a hard-fought victory over Japan’s Taro Daniel in a thrilling three-set match today at Melbourne Park. the 22-year-old’s win also marked his 100th career match at the ATP Tour level.
Shelton, currently ranked seventh in the world, overcame a challenging contest against the world No. 17 Daniel, 23, with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1). This marks Shelton’s deepest run yet at the Australian Open, having previously been eliminated in the third round in his two prior appearances (2023 & 2024).
The match began favorably for Shelton, who capitalized on breaks to take the first set.Daniel responded strongly in the second, securing a break and holding serve to level the match. The decisive third set saw a back-and-forth battle, with both players trading breaks. Shelton faced a critical break point at 4-5 down, but demonstrated resilience, breaking back instantly to force a tiebreaker. He then dominated the tiebreaker, winning 7-1 to clinch the victory.
“It was a really tough game,” Shelton stated in a post-match interview published on the ATP official website. “I got a break in the third set and thought, ‘I’m not going to do it anymore,’ and he (Daniel) played well. But I gave him another chance and made it a solid move. from there, I felt like I ran through it all at once.”
Shelton attributed his success not to peak performance, but to mental fortitude. “I think the reason for the victory was that I was struggling with my biggest weapons, my serve and forehand, but I was in poor form today, and I managed to keep returning the returns to the court.rather than the content of the match, I think that mental strength and the stubbornness that keeps fighting without giving up led to the victory.”
Background: Shelton’s Ascent and Tournament Path
Shelton’s journey to the quarterfinals began with a second-round win over Alexandre Manalino of France (ranked 94th and a qualifying round winner), defeating the 25th seed in straight sets. This victory propelled him into the fourth round where he faced Daniel.
the Australian Open represents a significant chance for Shelton to build on his rapidly ascending career. He is currently the youngest player in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings. His powerful serve and aggressive baseline game have quickly established him as a player to watch.
Looking ahead: Quarterfinal Matchup
shelton will next face Australia’s Alex de Minaur,the ninth seed,in the quarterfinals. De Minaur secured his spot with a victory over fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round. The match is scheduled for January 22nd at Rod Laver Arena. This will be the second career meeting between the two players; Shelton won their first encounter at the 2023 Atlanta Open in straight sets.
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