Now Reading: Shelton storms into Montreal quarterfinals with straight-sets win
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Shelton storms into Montreal quarterfinals with straight-sets win
Defending champion Ben Shelton powered past Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6(3) on Sunday to reach the Montreal Masters quarterfinals. The American world number 10 fired eight aces and did not drop a set,…
The Story in Brief
Defending champion Ben Shelton powered past Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6(3) on Sunday to reach the Montreal Masters quarterfinals. The American world number 10 fired eight aces and did not drop a set, recovering from a 1-3 deficit in the second set after the Brazilian teenager landed awkwardly on his ankle. Shelton will next face 13th seed Jakub Mensik, who beat Botic Van De Zandschulp in straight sets. "It came down to grit," Shelton said of the win. Spaniard Daniel Merida also advanced, beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-1 to become the second qualifier in the last eight.
Merida, ranked 63, joins compatriot Rafael Jodar in the quarterfinals and will break into the top 50 after the tournament. The 22-year-old had never won a tour-level match on hardcourt before this week. He will next face American Learner Tien, who defeated Thiago Tirante in straight sets. Mensik earlier saved two set points against Van De Zandschulp before closing out the match with a lob winner.
The Indian Opinion
The Shelton bandwagon keeps rolling, but let's not crown him just yet. His power game is tailor-made for hard courts, yet his draw has been kind. The real test comes against Mensik, who showed grit to save set points. Meanwhile, Merida’s run from clay to Canadian cement is striking, but to call it a fairytale ignores that he beat a flagging Griekspoor. The tournament's narrative is shifting from Sinner and Alcaraz withdrawals to a new generation stepping up. The question now is: can Shelton handle a genuine top-20 player when the pressure mounts?
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, sportstar.thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
