Alexei Popyrin was playing amazing tennis in Australia but he ran into another player who was having an amazing time down there,
Ben Shelton, who won in three sets.
Ben Shelton finished the past year with an incredible run on the challenger tour and it continued in the new year. Utilizing a devastating serve and really strong forehand, Shelton is playing incredible tennis reaching the 4th round in his first try at the
Australian Open. The first finished 6-3 for Shelton as he hit 13 winners and six aces for a comfortable cruise.
The second set was far more competitive and it finished only in the tiebreak. It wasn't as clean of a set from Shelton and Popyrin stepped up but for the most part, the crucial rallies were once again won by Shelton 7-3 in the tiebreak. The final set was another really strong one from Shelton 6-4 as his serve and forehand proved the difference.
That was the key. Similar player by profile with a strong serve and forehand but Shelton's one was far more stable.