Ben Shelton has had a sensational start to his 2023 tennis season, reaching his first-ever major quarterfinals.
After his unexpected run to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, many people have been curious to see if he can keep up the momentum. Unfortunately, his performances at Delray Beach and Acapulco were not up to his standards, and he suffered early exits.
However, he has finally bounced back in style at the 2023 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open, recording a comprehensive victory over Fabio Fognini.
Shelton showed his class, dominance, and grit in his first-round match at Indian Wells. His win against Fognini was a statement to his competitors and the tennis world that he is not a one-hit wonder.
The young American was broken early in the match, but he soon recovered and broke his opponent's serve two times to win the first set 6-4 and gain an important advantage in the match.
In the second set, Shelton was too strong for Fognini as he dominated in crucial moments and after an hour and 12 minutes, eh won the match 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the second round in Indian Wells.
Shelton's 23 winners and 14 unforced errors were impressive stats, reflecting the quality of his performance. He also showed a strong serve and volley game, which he utilized to great effect.
This win was particularly special for Shelton as he had not won a match since the Australian Open. It was a long wait, but it was worth it, and he seems to have found his groove again. He will now be looking to carry this form and confidence into the next round, where he will face a tougher opponent in the form of the fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz.
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