Ben Shelton faced off against Carlos Alcaraz in The Garden Cup, resulting in a loss for Shelton. As the 2024 tennis season wraps up and players gear up for 2025, they find themselves in a period with limited competitive matches. To stay sharp, many athletes participate in exhibition events like the one held at Madison Square Garden.
The event saw both ATP and WTA players compete, with Emma Navarro defeating Jessica Pegula on the women’s side. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious over Ben Shelton to claim the men’s title. Even though these matches are more about practice and entertainment than competition, both players showed their competitive spirit.
Shelton started strong by taking the first set 6-4, but Alcaraz came back to win the second set 6-2. In a thrilling tie-breaker, Alcaraz clinched victory with a score of 7-4. Afterward, Shelton expressed his excitement about being part of such an event at MSG.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| es Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 68,791 | 25 - 5 |
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“It means a lot,” Shelton shared enthusiastically. “We didn’t just play at MSG tonight; we sold it out!” He was thrilled to be alongside talents like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Navarro.
However, despite enjoying himself, Shelton admitted that losing was tough: “This one’s gonna sting,” he joked about his sleepless night ahead. Fans might feel that this match was more about fun than winning or losing.
Alcaraz focused less on winning and more on dazzling the crowd with impressive shots during his victory celebration at Madison Square Garden. He praised Shelton’s skills too: “Playing against Ben makes it easier to hit great shots because his game is unbelievable.”
As for what’s next? While Shelton shifts focus toward preparing for 2025’s challenges ahead—Alcaraz heads down south where another exhibition awaits him against Frances Tiafoe in Charlotte! What do you think about these exhibition matches?
