Ben Shelton kicked off his Dallas Open campaign with a dominant 6-3, 6-3 victory over Aleksander Vukic and completed the one-hour match inside 63 minutes.
The seeded fourth American mostly played on an aggressive first service, winning almost 90 percent of those and never giving any break chances away. He needed just six aces to send Vukic running around the court. Shelton later reflected on their past clash, where Vukic once bageled him, calling the win a confidence boost.
“Breaking him three times tonight means a lot,” he said. Now ranked a career-high No. 13, Shelton aims for his first ATP title of the year, crediting steady progress over “overnight” success. Up next, he will face China’s Buyanchaokete or Spain’s Casper Ruud survived a gritty battle against James Duckworth, edging the Australian 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in over two hours.
The Norwegian, seeded second, fought off 10 of 11 break points, including two nerve-wracking 0/40 deficits in the final set. “James plays fast, low shots, a style I have struggled with on hard courts,” Ruud admitted. His clutch serving under pressure proved decisive, saving critical points when it mattered most.
Now competing as a Top 5 player for the first time since the 2023 US Open, Ruud will meet Roberto Carballes Baena or qualifier Michael Mmoh next. Both Shelton and Ruud demonstrated the grit to get a highly entertaining second-round battle in Dallas.
Shelton’s rapid rise and Ruud’s gritty comeback are early drama highlights of the tournament, with fans eager to see if either can maintain momentum on their quest for the title.