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Shelton's 21 Aces Power Houston Clay Opener
2 Apr
Summary
- Ben Shelton started his clay-court season with a victory.
- He served 21 aces in his first clay match in nearly a year.
- Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals of the Houston tournament.
Ben Shelton commenced his clay-court campaign with a decisive win at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship. He defeated Zhang Zhizhen 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in his opening match, firing an impressive 21 aces.
Shelton acknowledged his initial discomfort on clay but emphasized his service effectiveness. "I knew I had to be effective with my serve tonight and hit a few aces, and I'm happy that I did," he stated. This victory was particularly significant as it was his first clay-court match in almost a year, following his quarter-final appearance at Roland Garros in June.
The win propelled Shelton into the quarter-finals, where he is scheduled to face Thiago Agustin Tirante. This marks Shelton's return to clay after a less successful run in March's Indian Wells and Miami tournaments. He is also poised to become the American No. 1 in the upcoming PIF ATP Rankings.
