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Shelton defeats Nava in Munich

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

Ben Shelton defeated Emilio Nava 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 in the first round of the Munich ATP event on hard courts. The sixth-ranked American overcame a slow middle set to close out the match and improve his head-to-head record against Nava to 2-0. Nava, ranked 108th, had pushed the opening set to a tiebreak but was unable to sustain that level through the decisive third.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/16 finals match at Munich 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 opening tiebreak 7-6(4)
  • Won final two sets to claim match
  • Improved to 2-0 vs. Nava

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