World no. 13 Ben Shelton made a profitable begin in entrance of the house followers in Dallas. The 4th seed took down Aleksandar Vukic 6-3, 6-3 in 63 minutes, enjoying nicely and crusing into the following spherical. Shelton performed his first match for the reason that Australian Open semi-final.
A left-hander dropped solely three factors behind the primary serve and stored the second serve protected to keep away from break factors. Vukic gave away 40% of the factors in his video games and bought damaged 3 times from 4 possibilities introduced to the house favourite.
Easy work for Shelton 🙌
Ben Shelton places on a clinic in beating Aleksandar Vukic 6-3 6-3 🔥#DALOpen pic.twitter.com/qHyIccjJwh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 5, 2025
Ben fired 20 winners and 15 unforced errors. He outplayed his rival from the baseline and carried out nicely on the internet to manage the scoreboard. The American supplied 5 snug holds within the opener and stored the strain on the opposite facet.
The 4th seed held at 30 within the first sport of the encounter and landed an ace two video games later for 2-1. Aleksandar adopted that tempo and produced a maintain at love in sport six to lock the end result at 3-3. A left-hander secured the seventh sport with a service winner.
Shelton made a push on the return at 4-3 and secured a break after Vukic’s wayward forehand, opening a 5-3 hole and serving for the opener in sport 9. The American held at love and wrapped up the primary a part of the duel in 27 minutes.
The 4th seed supplied 4 good holds within the second set and pressured his opponent. Aleksandar missed a volley within the first sport, shedding serve and falling a set and a break behind. Ben delivered two holds at love and constructed a 3-1 benefit.
The Aussie recovered his sport after the break he suffered, offering three effective holds and remaining in contact. Aleksandar reached a deuce on the return within the eighth sport earlier than spraying errors to propel his opponent 5-3 in entrance.
The American made one other push on the return in sport 9 and transformed a match level with a smash winner on the internet, sealing the deal and shifting by way of.
