Ben Shelton Ready to ‘Cause a lot of Damage’ Against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros

As Ben Shelton reaches the fourth round of Roland Garros for the first time, the American admits to feeling better and better on clay.

Ben Shelton Ready to ‘Cause a lot of Damage’ Against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton (images via X)

Ben Shelton exudes immense confidence as he is into the fourth round of the Roland Garros for the first time. The young American tennis player feels energized on clay and expressed his excitement to play World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in his upcoming match. 

In the post-match press conference, Shelton acknowledged that though he is not serving as well as he’d like, other aspects are working very well for him. He admitted to feeling better and better on clay. He wants to continue to be aggressive, approach the net, and hit with his forehand. The 22-year-old described the key as learning to slide and make efficient directional changes. Seeing that his game troubles clay specialists gives Shelton a boost of confidence.

Look, I’m going out to have fun and see what I can do. I have to say that I’m starting to feel that I can cause a lot of damage on clay to anyone because I’ve gained traction and grip in my movements, I’m moving faster, and being myself. Facing Carlos in this context is a great opportunity in my career; I feel privileged to be able to experience something like this.

Alcaraz and Shelton will meet for the third time on court and their first time on clay. Alcaraz had defeated Shelton on both prior occasions. He will be a tough challenge for the American after having made it to the finals of all three European clay court tournaments that he played this year, winning two of them. Shelton has also reached one clay court final this year at the Hamburg Open, where he lost to top seed Alexander Zverev.

Ben Shelton earns a strong third round victory at Roland Garros

Ben Shelton survived an early upset bid from Lorenzo Sonego on Sunday, winning in five sets on Court Philippe-Chartier. The Italian had him a set away from elimination, but a fourth-set rally changed the momentum of the game.

Shelton broke to lead 2-1 and gained momentum from there. Shelton sought a medical timeout before the final set to receive treatment on his left ankle and then finished the opening round match with 58 winners to 42 unforced errors and 15 aces.

Ben Shelton (via X)
Ben Shelton (via X)

Shelton didn’t have to touch the clay to advance to the third round of the Roland Garros as his opponent, Hugo Gaston, withdrew from the tournament citing an abdominal injury. In the third round, Shelton cruised to a victory in straight sets, defeating Matteo Gigante 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. The American player’s unique playing style has left both fans and opponents in awe, showcasing his versatility and creativity on the clay court.

Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to become the first man to win two consecutive Roland Garros titles after Rafael Nadal in 2019-20

Carlos Alcaraz started his title defense strong, with a straight set victory over Giulio Zeppieri in his opening round. However, his next tow victories came with a bit of difficulty as he fought Fabian Marozsan in the second round and Damir Dzumhur in the third. Despite the challenge by Dzumhur the Spaniard did not let him capitalize on the momentum, eventually sealing the win in three hours and 14 minutes with a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline.

Carlos Alcaraz (via X/Carlos Alcaraz Daily)
Carlos Alcaraz (via X/Carlos Alcaraz Daily)

At the press conference after the win, Alcaraz talked about the ups and downs of the match. The 22-year-old stated that he had some “physical doubts” and that the Bosnian took advantage of them. However, he dismissed any fitness concerns. The four-time Grand Slam champion is also aiming to become the first man to win two back-to-back Roland Garros titles after compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2019-20.

Also Read: Toni Nadal Claims Carlos Alcaraz’s Rival Is Only Jannik Sinner As He Gives Verdict on Current State of ATP Tennis