Dominant victory for Shelton over Arthur Fils in Laver Cup gives Team World the edge

Saturday, 23 September 2023 at 00:19

Ben Shelton defeated Arthur Fils in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-1, securing the first point of the Laver Cup for Team World.

A showdown between young tennis talents kicked off the Laver Cup, featuring 19-year-old world No. 44 Arthur Fils against world No. 19 Ben Shelton. Both players displayed impeccable serving skills in the opening set and held their service games with ease.

In the first six games, Shelton didn't concede a single point on his serve, while Fils only gave away one point in the fifth game, which posed no threat to his service hold.

Read also

Although both players managed to apply pressure to their opponent's serves in the latter part of the set, neither could muster a break point opportunity, leading to a tie-break. Despite Fils taking an early lead by securing a mini-break and going up 4-1, Shelton mounted a comeback and won the next six points, including two on Fils' serve, ultimately taking the set 7-6(4).

The second set saw Shelton exhibiting a stronger performance in his return game. While both players held their serves in the first two games to make it 1-1, Shelton then hit his stride, displaying aggression as he won the next five consecutive games, including two breaks, to close out the match with a score of 7-6(4), 6-1 in just one hour and 19 minutes.

Read also

The North American showcased the high level of play that had propelled him to the semifinals of the US Open. He achieved a 73% first-serve accuracy, winning 84% of those points, and a 63% success rate on second serves.

Moreover, Shelton didn't offer a single break point opportunity to his opponent and secured 31% of his return points off Fils' first serves and 44% off the second serves.

In the second match, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (25th) of Team Europe will face off against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo (21st), who will aim to secure the second point for Team World.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

The genie might be out of the bottle but Federer's slice backhand is still very much alive

Relax and swing! With 318,000 followers tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann surely knows which tennis balls to pick