Ben Shelton has set up a mouth-watering Round of 16 clash to be enjoyed today at Wimbledon, after his impressive marathon victory over Dennis Shapovalov.
The American, who has struggled for form on grass in recent weeks, has brushed aside any reservations he might have held for the surface in favour of a solid run, and has already comfortably surpassed his best-ever finish at this event.
However, he will want more, but will have to get past Jannik Sinner if he is to claim it.
Even before then, battling his own fitness issues might prove a tougher challenge than any.
Ben Shelton provides Wimbledon fitness update
Speaking at his post-match Wimbledon press conference, the 21-year-old spoke about the physical toll that a five-set match can incur.
Speaking after Shelton revealed the tactical changes he made to beat Dennis Shapovalov, attention was diverted, given this marked the third straight match that has gone the distance.
For most, this would likely spark plenty of issues, but for such a young, fit athlete, he is arguing that he has never felt better.
He told Wimbledon’s official channels: ‘A day off is better than playing five sets the day before you play three out of five. But I was telling my coaches that physically after this match today is the best I have felt in the last two or three months.
‘I have been dealing with a lot of stuff on and off, but a lot of those issues have subdued. I am really happy with where my body is at right now and I am 100% ready to go the distance if it is to five sets again tomorrow.’
A Wimbledon full of upsets so far
With Sinner next up, Shelton will certainly have to be at his very best if he is to surpass the men’s world number one and claim his spot in the quarter-finals.
However, he can take solace from the fact that this has already been a tournament wrought with upsets.
Even as recently as yesterday saw the women’s world number one Iga Swiatek exit the competition to the unseeded Yulia Putintseva, whilst Aryna Sabalenka didn’t even play a match before she pulled out with injury.
Elsewhere, as far as the first round we saw players like Andrey Rublev and Marketa Vondrousova, and with the latter in particular exiting so early, we are guaranteed a new champion already on the women’s side.
Shelton has to look at these results and believe that it is possible. If he is on form, there are few on the tour who could deal with his game as well.
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