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Ben Shelton Dominates First Match of Swiss Indoors

Ben Shelton won his first match of the Swiss Indoors with ease.
Pat Benson|
Aug 17, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Ben Shelton of the United States reacts to a point during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day six of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
Aug 17, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Ben Shelton of the United States reacts to a point during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on day six of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images | Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Ben Shelton had never played at the Swiss Indoors before today. But the 22-year-old looked totally in command when facing Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the Round of 32.

Shelton defeated Etcheverry in straight sets: 6-3, 6-4. However, the match was not without plenty of distractions. A controversial call during the first set ignited passionate fans on social media.

Shelton was up 3-2 when one of his returns his Etcheverry's leg before bouncing out of the court, but the replay showed the ball was already out.

Instead of the game getting tied up 30-30, Shelton went up 40-15 and broke Etcheverry in the following point. The bad call most likely had no impact on the overall outcome of the match, but it did change the momentum of the first set.

The second strange moment came later in the second set when a fan proposed to Shelton from the stands. Shelton laughed it off and continued his dominant play. Despite showing valiant effort, Etcheverry struggled to contain Shelton's powerful left-handed serve.

Shelton will face the winner of Adrian Mannarino and Stan Wawrinka in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, October 23. The winner of that match will likely face Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals.

Shelton is currently the ATP World No. 23 and has a record of 38-23 with one singles title this season. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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