Turned it

Shelton defeats Sonego at the French Open

6-4 4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3

Shelton vs Sonego — 3-0 across 3 meetings in this archive

Ben Shelton defeated L. Sonego 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the French Open. Shelton took the opening set before Sonego won back-to-back sets to move ahead, only for Shelton to close out the final two sets with a combined 12-5 margin. The match was played on clay at Roland Garros.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/64 finals match at French Open 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.

  • Down 1 set after losing 4-6, 3-6
  • Won final 2 sets 6-2, 6-3 (12-5 margin)
  • French Open R64 victory

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