Ben Shelton remains focused on the formidable competition in the men’s singles draw.
The dynamic American, however, is positioning himself well for a repeat victory at the National Bank Open.
Shelton showcased his prowess, overpowering the rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (3) during the Round of 16 at IGA Stadium on Sunday night, bouncing back from early breaks in both sets to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
“It’s incredibly reassuring to fight back after going down a break,” noted the fifth-seeded Shelton. “I was pleased with my return game and my overall effort.”
Shelton battled through gusty conditions on center court, unleashing serves that reached nearly 230 kilometers per hour.
At just 23, he blasted five aces, while Fonseca struggled without any, landing 71 percent of his first serves as he celebrated his seventh quarterfinal berth at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
Fonseca, the No. 22 seed, encountered issues with three double faults and managed to land 64 percent of his first serves, winning only 58 percent of those points.
Reflecting on his performance, the 19-year-old Brazilian succinctly acknowledged his shortfalls.
“He served exceptionally well, while I struggled with my serve,” Fonseca admitted. “Kudos to him.”
Shelton clinched his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto last year, and at No. 10 in the world, he stands as the highest-ranked player left in the tournament after numerous early withdrawals and swift defeats.
Next, he’ll take on No. 13 seed Jakub Mensik from Czechia in the quarterfinals, who triumphed over Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands 6-4, 7-5 earlier that night.
“We’re quite familiar with each other’s games, so it’s bound to be an exciting match. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Mensik, who has claimed two of their three previous encounters. “It’s going to hinge on our serves, and I aim to be the one who prevails.”
In his match against Fonseca, Shelton seized control of a tightly contested first set with a timely break to lead 5-3. After several deuces, he converted on his second break chance during an intense 19-minute game.
The powerful lefty then closed out the set with confidence, concluding it with a well-placed lob and a forehand winner down the line.
Fonseca, who drew fervent cheers of “Jooo-ao! Fon-se-caaaa!” from the crowd, came out strong in the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead after breaking Shelton with a superb lob.
However, trouble brewed when Fonseca appeared to twist his right ankle during a jump for a smash while facing a break point. Holding his ankle in visible pain, he took a moment to regroup on the bench, later stating that the injury was “nothing serious.”
“It was a moment of concern, but afterward, I no longer felt it,” he remarked. “It was just a scary experience.”
Despite the scare, momentum shifted back to Shelton.
He broke back when Fonseca’s backhand went wide and held serve to even the set at 3-3.
Fonseca pushed forward, taking a 6-5 lead while fending off a break point with one of his impressive forehand winners. However, Shelton advanced to a tiebreak, quickly gaining a 3-0 lead as Fonseca struggled to read his serve.
A wide backhand from the Brazilian gave Shelton a 6-2 edge with four match points, and two points later, a backhand into the net sealed the match.
“I knew it would be tough to return today. I had my chances with two early breaks in both sets, but I didn’t execute well,” Fonseca reflected. “I need to improve.”
Earlier that day, 20-year-old American Learner Tien made his way to the quarterfinals with a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.
He is set to face Spain’s Daniel Merida Aguilar, who triumphed over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands with a score of 6-3, 6-1.
Tien, along with Mensik, 19-year-old Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar, and Fonseca before his exit, are driving a youthful renaissance into the tournament’s late rounds.
“When one player excels, it motivates everyone else to rise to the occasion,” Tien mentioned. “It’s fantastic for our sport. We’re all pushing each other to get better.”
The National Bank Open faced challenges as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic withdrew prior to the event.
Most of the Canadian squad, along with several top seeds, including second-seeded Félix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal, faced early exits due to injuries and unexpected losses.
Shelton, a potential future star of the sport, is poised to seize this opportunity.
“There’s an abundance of talent still in the draw. So many top-level players, especially among the younger crowd like Jodar, (Arthur) Fils, and Mensik,” Shelton stated. “The competition is fierce.”
