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Shelton defeats Shimabukuro in Stuttgart

4-6 6-3 6-4

Ben Shelton defeated Sho Shimabukuro 4-6 6-3 6-4 at Stuttgart on grass to advance in the ATP singles draw. Shimabukuro took the opening set, but Shelton recovered to win the second convincingly before closing out the third. The result gives Shelton a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head, with their only prior meeting also going in his favor.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a match at Stuttgart on grass 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 next two sets
  • Took set 2 convincingly 6-3
  • Improves to 2-0 in head-to-head

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