‣ Ben Shelton is continuing his run in the Japan Open after a close battle against Jordan Thompson.
‣ Shelton dominated on his serve and won the first set in a tiebreak.
‣ Shelton used break points to win the second set and force a decider, ultimately winning the match 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3.
Details
Ben Shelton continued his impressive run at the Japan Open with another hard-fought victory, this time against Jordan Thompson. While many had expected Alexander Zverev to make it through the first round, it was the Australian Thompson who defeated Zverev and set up this exciting matchup with Shelton.
Both players faced tough opponents in their previous matches, but Shelton managed to secure a spot in the next round once again. Today’s match was incredibly close, as anticipated, but Shelton found a way to come out on top. The opening set went into a tiebreak, with Shelton dominating on his serve and giving Thompson very few chances.
Although Thompson had to save more break points throughout the match, he managed to hold his serve, including during the tiebreak. Despite Shelton initially taking a mini break, Thompson fought back and ultimately won the set 7-5. The second set was equally as tight, with neither player finding a breakthrough until the final game. However, it was Shelton who created and converted the break points, winning the set 6-4 and forcing a decider.
Despite Thompson’s excellent play and momentum in the third set, Shelton remained determined and quickly took an early lead. He maintained his strong performance throughout the set, ultimately sealing a 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 victory. Shelton’s display included 12 aces and an overall exceptional level of play. It’s exciting to witness a rising star like Shelton emerge into the quarter-finals of the Japan Open, especially considering the fatigue he must be experiencing.
