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Shelton defeats Opelka in Indian Wells

6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-3

Ben Shelton defeated R. Opelka 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-3 in the first round at Indian Wells on hard court. Opelka took the opener in a tiebreak, winning it 7-3, before Shelton leveled the match by claiming the second-set tiebreak 7-4. Shelton then pulled clear in the third set, closing out the match 6-3 to advance to the next round. The match was played on March 6, 2026, at the Indian Wells 1/32-finals stage.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/32 finals match at Indian Wells 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 tiebreak 7-3, leveled with 7-4 tiebreak win
  • Won final set 6-3 to advance at Indian Wells 1/32

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