Shelton Outlasts Humbert in Left-Handed Grind
Ben Shelton survives a tricky first-round duel against Ugo Humbert at the Australian Open, leaning on his serve and composure to advance in Melbourne’s early heat.
MELBOURNE, Australia—Ben Shelton stared across the net at a mirror image of his own left-handed power, Ugo Humbert’s flat strikes testing the eighth seed’s early resolve on these plexicushion courts. The American, who reached the semifinals here last year and at the US Open in 2023, carved out a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) win that felt like a statement amid the tournament’s opening chaos. Humbert, ranked No. 33 and just shy of a seed that might have spared this clash, pushed Shelton into tiebreak scrambles where every point carried the weight of a potential upset.
Shelton’s big serve anchored the victory, landing with enough kick to force weak returns from the Frenchman’s baseline position. He mixed in one–two combinations, his heavy topspin forehand setting up inside-out backhands that clipped the lines during tense holds. As the afternoon crowd leaned in, the American’s adjustments—deeper returns and quicker net rushes—turned Humbert’s crosscourt aggression into overhauled rallies.
“I thought I stayed really calm today,” Shelton said. “On a court like this, playing Ugo in the first round is a tough draw. I felt I found some of my better tennis late in the match.”
Pressure mounts from semifinal echoes
This opener amplified the stakes for Shelton, whose deep runs in Melbourne 2025 and New York 2023 have etched high expectations into his game. Humbert’s ranking quirk—no. 33 meant no seed protection—thrust him into Shelton’s path, a lefty duel that highlighted serve angles from the ad side. The American won 80 percent of his first-serve points, blunting returns while Humbert’s slice backhands kept balls low, demanding constant footwork tweaks on the moderate-paced surface.
Psychologically, the match mirrored the tour’s demands: Humbert’s drop shots probed for errors, but Shelton’s down-the-line passes in clutch moments revealed a maturing poise. With the Australian Open’s compressed schedule pressing majors closer together, this straight-sets escape eases the load, priming him for a second-round test where his hardcourt patterns can shine against less familiar foes. The victory underscores how early composure forges paths through a draw loaded with heavyweights.
Other courts deliver mixed fortunes
Across the grounds, fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti advanced through grit when Raphael Collignon of Belgium retired at 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 3-2, hampered by cramping and dizziness that cut short a competitive fight. Musetti’s one-handed backhand slices disrupted the Belgian’s rhythm, preserving energy on courts where heat turns matches into endurance battles. His progression highlights the physical edges that define openers, where tactical variety often outlasts raw power.
As evening shadows lengthened, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner prepared to face Hugo Gaston in a night session primed for baseline fireworks. Sinner’s flat groundstrokes could dominate Gaston’s defensive flair, injecting tension into the schedule much like Shelton’s grind did earlier. For the American, these ripples across Melbourne Park reinforce that staying even-keeled unlocks deeper tournament layers.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.