Melbourne, Jan. 26 -- Safe to say Ben Shelton will never forget his first Australian Open in 2023. Then a newcomer to international tennis with little experience outside the United States, the American stunned the field by reaching the quarterfinals in only his second Grand Slam main draw.
Three years on, the love affair continues.
The 23-year-old powered into his third Australian Open quarterfinal on Monday night, defeating 12th seed Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a high-octane fourth-round clash at Rod Laver Arena.
Shelton sealed the win in emphatic fashion, cracking a 228 km/h serve on the penultimate point and finishing with a forehand winner. He struck 14 aces in all, repeatedly lighting up the Melbourne crowd with his explosive ...