"The types of wins that really propel you": Ben Shelton survives Etcheverry at Cincinnati Open

Can Ben Shelton get something cooking in Cincinnati ahead of the US Open, where he is defending semifinal points?

On Thursday, the left-hander survived from match point down to reach the round of 16. Shelton overcame Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (7), 6-3, in two hours and 52 minutes.

The No. 12 seed found himself up against a wall after seeing his 6-3 lead evaporate in the second-set tiebreaker. Shelton delivered a heavy first serve up the T to deny Etcheverry any hope of wrapping up the contest. After the home favorite curled a winning crosscourt forehand, the Argentine pushed a backhand long to drop the set.

In the decider, Shelton converted his second break point from 11 chances with a potent inside-out forehand to move ahead 5-3. He then stepped to the line to close out the comeback win at love. Fabian Marozsan, who knocked out eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory, is up next.

“These are the types of wins that really propel you,” stated Shelton. “The ones where you are tested, back against the wall and you come through in the big moments. That’s what’s really important to me about this one.”

Fellow southpaw Jack Draper also showed his resolve in a tense three-setter of his own. With Stefanos Tsitsipas serving for the match, the Brit won the final three games to oust the ninth seed, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

“It’s very difficult conditions here in Cincinnati. Probably some of the fastest courts I’ve ever played on in my life, even being from London,” Draper told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj. “I think what won me the match today was the way I competed. My determination to win, I think that showed in key moments.”

Draper is now 2-0 against Tsitsipas, adding to his 2022 second-round victory in Montreal. The 22-year-old awaits the winner of No. 7 seed Casper Ruud and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz led Gael Monfils, 6-3, 6-6 (1-3), in an evening session showdown before rain suspended play for the remainder of the night.