Ben Shelton got his Cincinnati Open campaign off to the perfect start yesterday, as he overcame a tricky first-round opponent to defeat Reilly Opelka in straight sets.
However, that description perhaps belies the difficulty of the clash, with both sets going to a tiebreaker.
In the end, it was the 21-year-old who stepped up his level, but upon looking over the clash he admitted that, as aforementioned, this was far from an easy victory.
Ben Shelton full of praise for Reilly Opelka
Speaking to Tennis Channel immediately after his first-round triumph in Cincinnati, he reflected on a gruelling win over Opelka.
A compatriot and good friend of his, it marked a battle of the two big-serving Americans, in which youth prevailed.
However, speaking about the 26-year-old, Ben Shelton was supremely complimentary about him and the struggles he has overcome just to be back playing tennis at all.
He claimed: ’It’s fairly uncomfortable out there playing against him. 19 aces and a few serves which defied the laws of physics. But it’s fun to be on the court with him. He’s such a great guy. A friend of mine who I haven’t been able to play at any tournaments with for the last two years. So to see him out here, improving, every single week.
‘This is his first Masters 1000 back. He will play his first slam back in two weeks. I’m just happy to see his face back out here. Not happy to return his serve! But he’s a great guy and a great competitor.
‘I’m really surprised [by how well he’s playing]. I was just telling someone if I was out for two years, you wouldn’t see me out here at ATP level winning matches the way he is. I might have to start at the Challengers or the Futures. But he has come out right away and is winning matches every week, so that’s just a testament to how hard he’s worked to bring himself back and how many skills and tools he has apart from that serve.’
Ben Shelton needs a strong showing across this US stretch
With the Cincinnati Open prefacing the US Open, which starts later this month, Shelton has a fine opportunity to thrive on home soil.
However, he faces a very conflicting schedule regarding ranking points, as he can now only gain from his presence in the former competition.
After all, he was dumped out in the first round by Stefanos Tsitsipas last year, and has already gone one better by beating Opelka yesterday.
The affable and energetic 21-year-old should fancy his chances of a strong run at this event, and he will need one given in New York he has to defend a whole load of points, having reached the semi-final of the US Open last year.
In what was effectively the event where he emerged as a consistent threat for anyone on the tour, he overcame Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul and Dominic Thiem on his way to that stage, losing only to the eventual winner Novak Djokovic.
A mesmeric run, there is no reason why the world number 14 cannot repeat this feat.
After enjoying solid if unspectacular showings at Wimbledon in Washington, after Shelton chose to snub the Olympics, with a few underwhelming performances smattered in between, this US leg of the tour could prove pivotal in re-focusing his season and ending 2024 on top.
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