Ben Shelton begins clay swing with 21-ace statement in Houston | ATP Tour

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Shelton begins clay swing with 21-ace assertion in Houston; Paul wins

Individuals Shelton, Paul amongst these to e-book QF spots

April 02, 2026

Prime seed Ben Shelton started his clay-court swing in profitable style Wednesday, ousting China’s Zhang Zhizhen 7-6(5), 7-6(3) on the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.

“It was my first match in virtually a 12 months on clay,” stated Shelton, who hammered 21 aces. “I didn’t really feel that comfy taking part in from the baseline but, it’s simply one thing that’s going to take time and take a number of matches. I knew I needed to be efficient with my serve tonight and hit a number of aces, and I’m completely happy that I did.”

Neither participant broke serve all through the one-hour, 53-minute match, throughout which Shelton rallied from 2/5 within the first-set tie-break to win the opener.

Shelton, who gained the Houston trophy in 2024, is taking part in his first clay-court occasion since advancing to the Roland Garros quarter-finals final June. He arrived in Houston following a disappointing March, when he went 1-2 throughout Indian Wells and Miami. Shelton is set to surpass Taylor Fritz for American No. 1 honours in Monday’s PIF ATP Rankings.

The 23-year-old improved to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head collection with Zhang, who beat Shelton two years in the past on the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Rome.

Into the quarter-finals, Shelton will subsequent meet Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante for the primary time. Tirante downed Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-0.

Fourth seed Tommy Paul overcame a stern check from Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, rallying previous the 21-year-old 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Paul trailed 1-3 within the deciding set earlier than profitable 5 of the following six video games to flee.

“It was robust for each of us to carry,” stated Paul, commenting on the ten breaks of serve throughout the match. “I believe in these lengthy rallies it was about digging deep, seeing who may come out on high with the lengthy ones.

“I began taking part in a little bit bit extra aggressive, I believed it helped me out. It’s at all times robust in these early rounds in these tournaments, particularly altering surfaces. Hopefully all that courtroom time at this time might help me going ahead within the event.”

Up subsequent for Paul is Tomas Martin Etcheverry, whom the American beat final week within the Miami fourth spherical. Etcheverry superior with a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-3 victory in opposition to Alex Bolt.

Vallejo was taking part in a Prime 50 opponent for the primary time in his profession and was trying to turn into the primary Paraguayan to achieve an ATP Tour quarter-final since 2006.