Ben Shelton‘s journey at the Miami Open came to an abrupt halt. He was bested by a particularly inspired Lorenzo Musetti during the Masters 1000 event. Oh, the drama!
In the past year, Shelton has morphed into a must-watch on the ATP Tour. A breakthrough in 2023 catapulted him into the limelight, especially after reaching the US Open semifinal at just 21. Quite the feat, huh?
His first match in Miami? Well, that was a saga. Thanks to the whims of Mother Nature, Shelton faced multiple rain delays. But, he soldiered on and finally claimed victory. Talk about perseverance!
Musetti was the underdog walking into the match. His recent track record, including a tough loss to Holger Rune at Indian Wells, didn’t promise much. Yet, what unfolded was nothing short of a shocker for the home crowd.
From the get-go, Musetti was on fire. His serve was unstoppable, and that one-handed backhand? Suddenly, it wasn’t the liability we all thought it was.
Shelton’s service game at 2-2 was, frankly, a mess. Musetti broke him to love. Despite Shelton saving a break point later, Musetti clinched the first set 6-4. A tough pill to swallow for Shelton.
The second set saw a revitalized American. Shelton cut down his errors and took advantage of a dip in Musetti’s game. He even led 4-1 at one point. But, Musetti wasn’t down for long.
Musetti’s comeback was fierce. He broke back and kept the pressure up, showcasing a backhand passing shot that’ll be replayed for ages. Yet, Shelton managed to save five break points, clinging on by a thread.
In the tiebreak, the crowd was electric, rallying behind Shelton as he scored three consecutive points to lead 5-4. The tension was palpable.
But Musetti? Cool as a cucumber. He won the next three points, sealing the deal with Shelton netting a forehand at 6-5. The final score? 6-4, 7-6 in favor of Musetti. What a match!
Takeaways
– ‣ Ben Shelton was eliminated from the Miami Open after losing to Lorenzo Musetti, despite Shelton’s recent rise as an entertaining and successful player on the ATP Tour.
– ‣ Lorenzo Musetti, entering the match as the underdog and having faced struggles in recent months, showcased an impressive performance, particularly with his serve and one-handed backhand.
– ‣ Despite a strong start in the second set by Shelton, Musetti managed to overcome challenges, including saving five break points, and ultimately secured the victory with a final score of 6-4, 7-6.