American duo Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro defeat Tsitsidosa (Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas) to win Eisenhower Cup
Tennis NewsWednesday, 06 March 2024 at 09:43
The yearly pre Indian Wells warm-up known as the Eisenhower Cup took place during the early hours of Wednesday morning with American duo, Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro upsetting the odds to scoop the Tie-Break Tens title.
Upsetting the odds by defeating the tennis power couple, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. The Tie Break Tens is a short sharp exhibition format which sees it played the first to ten points or 11 if they are not separated in the lengthy tie-break format. Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina were due to play too, but Maria Sakkari and Sloane Stephens stepped up to replace them.
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Zheng Qinwen and Frances Tiafoe lost to Badosa and Tsitsipas in the semi-finals, but prior to that, they took down Sloane Stephens and Tommy Paul. Shelton and Navarro also defeated the make shift team of Maria Sakkari and Andrey Rublev only narrowly 11-9.
A look into the future with Holger Rune and Caroline Wozniacki teaming with a potential Olympic alliance to come for that pairing and they saw off Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka. While Badosa and Tsitsipas defeated World Number One Iga Swiatek and fellow top Pole, Hubert Hurkacz 10-2.
Shelton and Navarro took down Wozniacki and Rune and they were joined by Tsitsidosa after they made light work of Qinwen Zheng and Frances Tiafoe. The former led 3-0 to begin the tie, however Tsitsipas and Badosa soon returned to make it 7-5. However it set up a thrilling conclusion as they were locked at 8-8. Shelton brought up championship point and drew errors both times from Badosa to seal it.
Results in full 2024 Eisenhower Cup
Quarter-Finals
Zheng Qinwen/Frances Tiafoe def. Sloane Stephens/Tommy Paul 10-8
Ben Shelton/Emma Navarro def. Maria Sakkari/Andrey Rublev 11-9
Caroline Wozniacki/Holger Rune def. Taylor Fritz/Aryna Sabalenka 10-7
Paula Badosa/Stefanos Tsitsipas def. Iga Swiatek/Hubert Hurkacz 10-2
Semi-Finals
Emma Navarro/Ben Shelton def. Caroline Wozniacki/Holger Rune 10-5
Paula Badosa/Stefanos Tsitsipas def. Zheng Qinwen/Frances Tiafoe 1`0-3
Final
Emma Navarro/Ben Shelton def. Paula Badosa/Stefanos Tsitsipas 10-8
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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- "This of course a stark change to Rybakina who is obviously more timid..." That just may be the dumbest thing ever written about Lena. For a CCO, Mr. Gill seems to have either made an error in judgement -- or needed filler for this article -- to say something so ridiculous.
mandoist13-09-2026 - “The way I like to put it – no disrespect to anybody – is that this is her house, and all the other girls are just guests, and it’s time for them to go home” Well now... seems John Stacy has made a complete ass of himself. Doubt he'll be receiving any invitations to Lena's "house" any time soon.mandoist13-09-2026
- I am sorry, but Sabalenka has NO EXCUSE for her despicable behaviour. She lacks self and mouth control! The message is being sent but Saba isn't getting it! She is full of arrogance and pride. Hopefully, after this defeat she will be on the way to becoming a humble lady LIKE ELENA! I hope she never regains the world No. 1 until she develops some humility.Rapunzel13-09-2026
- Sabalenka began showing signs of her game gradually 'changing' since last season. I predicted her fascination with posting endless Selfies, participating in commercial media distractions and constant Social Media nonsense could impact her in a negative way. Her off-court Life was sure to interfere with her performace level. Visions of Raducanu, Giorgi, Bouchard come to mind. The Final yesterday was a weird case of polar-opposites. Sabalenka and Rybakina could not be any more different in personalities! Saba often portrays a somewhat fake persona, including her Phony Screaming. Her usual habit of acting like the nice girl with a sense of humor is a misconception. People take her lack of intellect as "cute" and "funny". So anyway... yesterday viewers witnessed that Fake Scream be reduced to a whimper and sometimes no vocal gymnastics at all once she knew the jig was up. We all saw her look into the camera post-match and say "F... You". Also, pretty hard to not see Saba making untoward facial expressions, rolling her eyes, etc., behind Rybakina while on the podium. Elena Rybakina, on the other hand, was her usual 'in-control' self as she spoke clearly and calmly, without making faces nor any ill-will toward anyone = 100% Class Act. Lena appeared more than aware of Saba's sour attitude and made a point of not looking in her direction most of the time. FWIW: I have never -- not ever -- heard Sabalenka make any sounds on practice courts. So it is indeed a nonsensical ruse as she thinks (incorrectly) it affects opponents. It does not. In fact, as was the case yesterday, I saw Lena occasionally take a side-eye glance at Saba on her way to the bench... as if to calculate her emotions. Saba is actually a very easy 'read'.mandoist13-09-2026
- WTA really, really hates this sort of thing. They surely are satisfied to make believe no such thing happens (or happened).mandoist13-09-2026
- WTA and ATP cannot even make their dope testing equal and precise across the board. They sure as hell cannot escape a stituation they themselves made over the ridiculous "penalty" of omitting a player's country flag. Nothing regarding which flags to display (or not) should be a Thing. It proves nothing; solves nothing. If anything, all it did was cause stress, tension, and even outbursts between players in the WTA locker room. Let's not even start with the asinine practice of not shaking hands at the net with "the enemy". There seems to be a general lack of intelligence behind Pro Tennis administrations' Closed Doors. .mandoist13-09-2026
- Big Babe Tennis! Hoping for a good final.DaveyWavey12-09-2026
- Director needs to return to his old "job" at the Australia Open. He's clueless in NYC.mandoist12-09-2026
- You keep writing ridiculous crap... why are you even watching tennis?mandoist12-09-2026
- They probably have a very good reason for this. I do not get it. Annoying that it finishes so late
AceOfBase12-09-2026
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