In a thrilling comeback at the Vienna Open, Ben Shelton showcased his resilient spirit by outlasting Kamil Majchrzak with a scoreline of 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(7). This victory is particularly significant for Shelton as he aims to solidify his position within the ATP Finals standings, where he currently occupies the sixth spot.
After a recent shoulder injury had sidelined him in New York, followed by an early exit in Shanghai, Shelton had much riding on this match. His win here represents a crucial confidence boost, especially as he saved two match points against him during a gripping final set. “It was such tight margins. He had the match on his racket and then I had it on mine,” Shelton reflected after the match, highlighting the razor-thin line between victory and defeat.
The 23-year-old didn’t seem to hit his peak form against Majchrzak but displayed his characteristic determination in the decisive moments. After trailing 4-6 in the third set tiebreaker, Shelton rallied to seize the win on his second match point, with the contest stretching to just under three hours.
Having previously reached the final in Basel last year, Shelton is set to meet Jaume Munar next, who advanced by defeating Swiss qualifier Remy Bertola 6-2, 6-4. Reflecting on his first win after his injury hiatus, he expressed, “It is huge for me. Trying to find your rhythm again can be tough, especially at the end of the season playing against in-form opponents.”
Meanwhile, Joao Fonseca made headlines by defeating defending champion Giovanni Mpteshi Perricard, clinching the match 7-6(6), 6-3. At just 19 years old, Fonseca became the youngest match winner in the event since Denis Shapovalov in 2017, marking a significant milestone in his promising career after breaking into the top 50 earlier this season.
In other matches, Marin Cilic secured a place in the second round by overcoming Belgium’s David Goffin, winning 7-6(9), 7-5. Cilic is set to face either fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or Gabriel Diallo in the next round. Additionally, Reilly Opelka dispatched Sebastian Baez with a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline, while Valentin Royer triumphed over Raphael Collignon 6-4, 7-6(5).
As the Vienna Open progresses, players are vying not just for titles but also for valuable ranking points, reflecting the heightened stakes as the ATP season draws to a close.
