Daijiworld Media Network - Montreal
Montreal, Aug 10: Defending champion Ben Shelton overcame in-form teenager Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6(3) to reach the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open, surviving a stern challenge from the Brazilian in windy conditions.
The fifth-seeded American, ranked No. 10 in the ATP Rankings, was forced to recover from early deficits in both sets but maintained his unbeaten run in Montreal and secured his 30th victory of the season.
“It was tough out there today and I competed well. It wasn't easy conditions to play in. I struggled to find my footing on a lot of balls, as did he. A lot of it just comes down to grit in a match like this. So to come through with a win against a really high-quality player like Joao is huge for me,” Shelton said, according to ATP.
Both players exchanged breaks in the opening set before Shelton made the decisive move at 4-3. A sharp forehand winner helped him secure another break, after which he served out the set.
Fonseca, who had already stunned former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas and ninth seed Casper Ruud in Montreal, raced to a 3-0 lead at the start of the second set. His momentum was briefly disrupted when he appeared to injure his right ankle while chasing an overhead during a break-point opportunity.
Shelton took advantage, recovering the break and levelling at 3-3. Fonseca continued to fight and saved a break point at 5-5, but Shelton raised his level in the tie-break, winning it 7-3 to seal the match in one hour and 48 minutes.
Shelton's aggressive approach proved decisive as he won 78 per cent of his first-serve points and 14 of 18 points at the net.
“For me, it's about playing aggressive tennis. I look to try to get to the net and be aggressive and take the time away. I thought I did a great job of that in the tie-break today, came up with clutch volleys, and ultimately that's what made me win tonight,” Shelton said.
The victory extended Shelton's Lexus ATP Head2Head advantage over Fonseca to 2-0. The American had previously defeated the teenager in Munich earlier this season.
Fonseca was bidding to reach his first quarter-final at the Canadian Masters 1000 event.
Shelton, who has already won titles in Dallas, Munich and Stuttgart this season, is now the only Top-10 player remaining in the Montreal draw. He will face Czech 13th seed Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals.
Mensik booked his place in the last eight with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Botic van de Zandschulp. The 20-year-old overcame a difficult second set, in which he came within three points of dropping the set at 4-5, before winning three straight games to complete the victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
The quarter-final will bring together two players who have won Masters 1000 titles, with Shelton and Mensik the only remaining players in Montreal to have previously triumphed at that level.