Dominant

Shelton dispatches Fonseca in Montreal

3-6 6-7(3)

Ben Shelton defeated Joao Fonseca 6-3, 7-6(3) in the round of 16 at the Montreal ATP on hard court. Shelton controlled the opening set with a 6-3 win before Fonseca pushed the second set to a tiebreak, where Shelton closed out the match at 7-3. Shelton struck 5 aces and won 78% of first-serve points while landing 72% of first serves in, and his 26 winners matched his 26 unforced errors on the day.

Match context

Why this one matters

A win in a 1/8 finals match at Montreal 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.

  • 6-3, 7-6(3) straight-sets win
  • 78% first-serve points won
  • Controlled set 1; closed tiebreak 7-3

Montreal — every round

Share this match

Read Ben’s full bio →

Shelton dispatches Fonseca in Montreal — Aug 9, 2026