Ben Shelton fights off Musetti ‘daddy’ status: “I was fighting to not let that happen”
ATP
Ben Shelton expressed his relief at avoiding the 'fatherhood' of Lorenzo Musetti after overcoming the Italian for the first time in their three encounters. The 22-year-old American had lost both previous matches against his peer but turned the tide in Melbourne.
Shelton secured his third consecutive win at the Australian Open, continuing to demonstrate his ability to thrive on the big stage, especially on hard courts. Victories over Brandon Nakashima, Pablo Carreño Busta, and now Lorenzo Musetti have propelled him into the second week at Melbourne Park for the second time in his career.
This latest win wasn’t easy, given his 0-2 record against Musetti coming into the match. The Italian had previously bested Shelton at the 2023 Queen’s Club Championships (6-4, 4-6, 6-4) and the Miami Open (6-4, 7-6). Shelton, however, was determined to avoid a third consecutive loss and the accompanying 'daddy' status on tour.
“He’s definitely one of the most talented guys on tour. One of the top three shot-makers out there. He does some things you can’t believe when he’s on the court. I was 0-2 against him before today,” Shelton said post-match. “We say on tour, if someone beats you three times in a row, they’re your daddy, so I was fighting to not let that happen.”
“He probably still thinks he can beat me. I mean, we could come out on this court and run it right now,” the American World No. 20 added.
Shelton’s victory takes him into the Round of 16, where the field has opened up following surprising exits from Taylor Fritz and Daniil Medvedev. This shift has cleared Shelton’s quarter, giving him a realistic shot at the semifinals without facing another seeded player.
Before that, he will need to get past the resurgent Gael Monfils, who is enjoying a remarkable start to the season. Monfils defeated Fritz in four sets, extending his winning streak to eight matches, including his title run at the ASB Classic last week.
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