Ben Shelton began his quest for a second title at the 2026 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship with a hard-fought victory over Zhizhen Zhang, emerging with a scoreline of 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in a match that lasted just under two hours. The encounter showcased both players’ powerful serve, as neither was able to break the other’s serve throughout the match.
Reflecting on his performance, Shelton expressed that it was his first match on clay in nearly a year, and he acknowledged struggling with his baseline play. “I didn’t feel that comfortable playing from the baseline yet; it’s just something that’s going to take time and take a few matches,” he stated. He recognized the importance of serving effectively and was pleased with his ability to hit several aces during the match.
In the evening match, Tommy Paul faced Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a match that proved to be a rollercoaster of breaks, with a total of ten service breaks occurring. Paul ultimately triumphed with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, following an intense two hours and 24 minutes on court.
Paul analyzed the match, indicating that both players had difficulty holding serve. He commented, “I think in those long rallies it was about digging deep, seeing who could come out on top with the long ones. I started playing a little bit more aggressive; I thought it helped me out.” He recognized the challenge of adapting to the different surface and expressed hope that his match experience would serve him well in the upcoming rounds.
As the tournament progresses to the quarterfinals, Shelton is set to take on Thiago Agustin Tirante while Paul prepares to battle Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The stage is set for an exciting continuation of the tournament as these competitors navigate the clay courts in Houston.
