Ben Shelton, ranked 16th in the world, and his former Florida Gators teammate, Andres Andrade, recently secured an unforgettable victory in the first round of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in the doubles event.
Despite recent setbacks, both Shelton and Andrade received a wildcard invitation to compete in the doubles competition after exiting early in their previous tournaments. In the first round, they faced off against Julian Cash and Robert Galloway.
Despite dropping the first set, Shelton and Andrade rallied to even the match and ultimately emerged victorious in the deciding set (10 point tie-breaker). They dominated Cash and Galloway, defeating them 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-5 in a total of one hour and 30 minutes.
During their freshman years, Andrade and Shelton both played for the Florida Gators. Together, they were members of the Gators’ first NCAA team championship-winning squad in 2021.
During a recent ATP tour interview, Andrade discussed Shelton’s remarkable college tennis journey. He emphasized how the American’s game improved in 2021 after working with his father.
“At the start, when he joined, he wasn’t so good, and you couldn’t see the potential he has now,” adds Andrade. “The first year he played as No. 5 [in the singles lineup]. Then No. 3. I always beat him in practice; I had all the tactics to beat him.”
“But then came the summer of 2021 and we all went home and Ben Shelton stayed there for a month practising with his dad. He improved. His body helped. And there was a drastic change. We all said ‘What’s happened?,”Andrade added.
The Ecuadorian was also full of praise for Shelton’s devastating serve:
“I could hardly ever beat him again. He got quick, grew, and matured very fast. He became an athlete. Since then he’s had everything. And his serve is the most special thing he has. He also improved it a lot with the team.”
Top Seed Ben Shelton to Face Zizou Bergs in Second Round of U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships
Ben Shelton, the number one seed at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, is set to compete in the event for the first time on Wednesday. His opponent in the second round will be Zizou Bergs.
Despite receiving a first round bye based on his ranking points, the American player was outmatched by Bergs in the first round with a final score of 7-6(5), 6-3. This will be the first time Shelton and Bergs will compete against each other on the main tour.
Despite facing tough competition from established players like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev earlier this year, Bergs remains determined to bring his A-game on the court against Shelton.
The victor of this competition will face either Brandon Nakashima or Rinky Hijikata in the quarterfinal round.
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