Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Ben Shelton’s ‘big bombs’ as he extends winning streak

Shahida Jacobs
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates
Carlos Alcaraz pleased during a match

Playing in his first top-level match since his stunning Wimbledon title run, Carlos Alcaraz didn’t exactly play lights-out tennis from start to finish, but he did more than enough to get the better of Ben Shelton in his opening match at the Canadian Open.

More than three weeks after his brilliant win over Novak Djokovic in the SW19 final, Alcaraz was a little slow out of the blocks in Toronto although in the end, it didn’t matter too much as he overcame the spirited American 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in one hour and 39 minutes.

The result means Alcaraz is now on a 13-match winning streak as he won back-to-back grass-court titles at Wimbledon and the Queen’s Club Championships.

“I try to be focused on every match, I try not to think about the winning streak just to keep going like I am doing,” the world No 1 said. “I always say the first match in every tournament is never easy.

“It’s even tougher playing against Ben, big bombs, big serves, big shots.

“It was trouble to get my good rhythm but I am pretty happy to get through and have another chance.”

Alcaraz was first to serve in the match, but there was plenty of rust as the opening game lasted eight minutes with the two-time Grand Slam winner saving three break points. But he held serve and soon found his rhythm as he broke the Shelton serve in game four before serving out the set in 42 minutes.

There were no breaks of serve in the second set and Alcaraz got a double mini-break early in the tie-break before serving it out.

“I tried to play my level but it wasn’t easy,” he said. “He was more aggressive than me from the beginning to the last ball. I tried to be solid and to get my rhythm and I’m really happy to be through to have an opportunity in the next round.

“This match will help me to be more focused in the next round, to put my game first in the beginning of the match.”

Up next is another big server in Hubert Hurkacz after the 15th seed defeated Miomr Kecmanovic in three sets while either Tommy Paul or Marcos Giron will await in the quarter-final. Qualifier Giron upset fifth seed Holger Rune 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

READ MORE: No new Big Three just yet as it’s only a Big One with Carlos Alcaraz dominating, saying Holger Rune

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