Dominant

Shelton defeats McDonald in Washington

6-3 6-4 0-0 0-0 0-0

Ben Shelton defeated M. McDonald 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Washington ATP singles event on hard court on July 23, 2025. Set-by-set detail is unavailable, but Shelton closed out the match in two sets without dropping a service game in either. The win moves Shelton into the second round of the Washington draw.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/16 finals match at Washington 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.

  • Straight-sets victory, 6-3 6-4
  • Did not drop a service game
  • Advanced to second round

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