By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday March 10, 2024
Ben Shelton edged Francisco Cerundolo in a third-set breaker to reach the round of 16 for the first time at Indian Wells.
Photo Source: Getty
Indian Wells – Ben Shelton brought his smashmouth brand of tennis to Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday night and came away with a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(5) victory over the hard-hitting Argentine to set a Round of 16 clash with streaking Jannik Sinner at the BNP Paribas Open.
Shelton, making his second career appearance at Indian Wells, appears to 3-1 lifetime and 10-5 on the season. He hit six aces, won 79 percent of his first serve points, and was broken twice across the two hour and 43 minute battle with the No.22 seed.
Cerundolo saved nine of ten break points, but didn’t face any in a final set that went with server and didn’t feature any break points. The 16th-ranked Shelton won the final two points of the contest and converted his first match point to win.
“A lot of help from my box over there keeping me calm after losing the second set,” Shelton said. “Definitely took a lot out of me tonight. It's just one of those atmospheres you love playing in.”
Shelton will have his hands full with red-hot Sinner, who has now won 17 consecutive matches after his straight-sets win over Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday. The pair split their two meetings in 2023, with Shelton winning in Shanghai and Sinner winning in Vienna.