Alcaraz dominates youngstars clash in Canadian Open with commanding performance over Ben Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz smoothly overcame the youngstars' clash, eliminating Ben Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3) in the second round of the National Bank Open (Canadian Open in Toronto.

An intriguing battle was expected between these two 20-year-old players. On one hand, the world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz entered as the overwhelming favorite, even though he hadn't played any official matches since claiming victory at Wimbledon three weeks ago.

As he has demonstrated throughout his career, the Spaniard had no trouble adapting to the change in surface and secured a convincing victory against Ben Shelton.

The American has experienced inconsistency since rising to prominence on the global tennis stage with his impressive run at the 2023 Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals.

After Wimbledon, he returned to the United States and participated in the Atlanta Open and DC Open, both resulting in first-round losses to the 18-year-old Chinese player Shang Juncheng.

In his debut at the Canadian Open, he managed to secure a victory against the Spanish player Bernabe Zapata Miralles, showcasing growth in his game.

The first set kicked off with a lengthy 14-point game, in which Alcaraz saved three break points against him. Shelton faced a similar situation in the fourth game when Alcaraz also held three break points in his favor. However, the world No. 1 seized the opportunity and established a comfortable lead of 4-1.

The American couldn't do much against Alcaraz's powerful serving, leading to Alcaraz taking the set 6-3. Shelton tried to keep up with the 2-time Grand Slam champion's pace and became more aggressive, tallying 13 winners compared to Alcaraz's 8, both with 4 unforced errors.

In the second set, Alcaraz aimed to take the offensive, seeking shorter points and improving the effectiveness of his serve. Neither player faced break points against their serves during the set, taking it to a tiebreak. Alcaraz exerted pressure on Shelton, claiming the first two mini-breaks.

Although Shelton managed to recover one, he then conceded a service, offering Alcaraz three match point opportunities. Alcaraz capitalized on his first chance and secured the match with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3).

In the third round, Alcaraz will face the 15th seed Hubert Hurkacz, who advanced with strong victories over Alexander Bublik and Miomir Kecmanovic. The Polish player and Alcaraz met once in their careers during the semifinals of the 2022 Miami Open, where Alcaraz ultimately emerged as the champion.