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Shelton defeats Navone in Madrid

4-6 7-6(5) 6-3 0-0 0-0

Ben Shelton defeated M. Navone 4-6 7-6(5) 6-3 in the first round of the Madrid ATP Singles event on hard court. Shelton dropped the opening set before taking the second in a tiebreak and closing out the third to advance. The win moves Shelton into the next round at Madrid.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/32 finals match at Madrid on hard courts is another data point in the argument Shelton's game keeps making: that first-strike tennis — the serve, the forehand behind it, the forward pressure — holds up week over week, not just on highlight reels.

  • Lost set 1 4-6, won tiebreak in set 2
  • 7-6(5) tiebreak clincher
  • Straight-set dominance in set 3

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