Ben Shelton had been making a reputation for himself on North American soil of late.
Getting into Saturday’s second-round match with Alexander Shevchenko, the World No. 9 had received 20 of his final 24 matches on dwelling soil, highlighted by titles on the Toronto Masters and, earlier this month, in Dallas.
Miami, for no matter cause, has not been his jam.
Shelton fell to 84th-ranked Shevchenko, 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3, in a hard-fought battle that marked the Kazakhstani’s first Prime 10 win since 2024.
Shelton drops to 1-4 lifetime in Miami—a shocking stat, provided that he performed his faculty tennis in Florida. Talking of unusual numbers, Shelton hadn’t misplaced to a participant ranked as little as Shevchenko since falling to then-No. 192 Coleman Wong final 12 months—in, you guessed it, Miami.
Shevchenko was on the brink within the second set, serving at 4-5, 15-30, however raised his stage from there. The Kazakhstani, who battled accidents final season, is as soon as once more trying like a Prime 50 expertise.
“It takes 100% to remain within the match on a regular basis in opposition to these sorts of gamers,” Shevchenko mentioned on courtroom. “There was a second after I was feeling a bit of bit drained, however as quickly as I acquired the momentum again, I introduced the power again.”
He’ll face Ugo Humbert within the third spherical.
ATP Outcomes from Saturday in Miami
Jannik Sinner [2] d. Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3
Daniil Medvedev [9] d. Rei Sakamoto [WC] 6-7(10), 6-3, 6-1
Alexander Zverev [3] d. Martin Damm [WC] 6-2, 6-4
Kamil Majchrzak d. Learner Tien [20] 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Alexander Shevchenko d. Ben Shelton [8] 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3
Jakub Mensik [12] d. Adam Walton [Q] 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Frances Tiafoe [19] d. Arthur Cazaux 7-6(1), 6-1
Quentin Halys d. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [16] 7-6(8), 6-4
Felix Auger-Aliassime [7] d. Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3), 7-5
Alex Michelsen d. Cameron Norrie [23] 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4
Ugo Humbert [31] d. Gabriel Diallo 6-1, 6-4
Marin Cilic d. Brandon Nakashima [27] 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(7)
Tomas Martin Etcheverry [29] d. Zizou Bergs 7-6(5), 7-6(3)
Corentin Moutet [30] d. Tomas Machac 6-0, 1-6, 6-4
Alejandro Tabilo d. Andrey Rublev [15] 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4
Francisco Cerundolo [18] d. Thiago Agustin Tirante [LL] 6-4, 6-2
Rafael Jodar [Q] d. Aleksandar Vukic [LL] 6-1, 6-2
Terence Atmane d. Arthur Rinderknech [26] 7-6(4), 6-3
