The blue lost a balanced match, decided by the deadly serve of the world no.7
Ben Shelton’s serve is a weapon that Flavio Cobolli cannot counter. It is, therefore, the American who wins the second round match at the Masters 1000 in Paris: the final result is 7-6(4) 6-3 in one hour and 32 minutes. The Roman tries to manage his innings, but a solid Big Ben, who seems to be managing the shoulder injury he suffered in the previous weeks well, doesn’t give his opponent many opportunities and enters the round of 16. With this victory Shelton continues his run towards the ATP Finals. The number six of the Race accumulates points, reaches 3870 points and is ahead of his pursuers, including Musetti (now at 3685 points).
THE MATCH
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The last time Ben Shelton and Flavio Cobolli faced off, it didn’t end well. Not so much for the defeat of the Italian tennis player in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Toronto, but for the sparks at the end of the match. Having left the disagreements in Canada, in Paris it is time to think about the end-of-season objectives: for Shelton, qualification for the Finals, for Cobolli, the best physical shape for the Davis Cup. There are few long rallies in this match, many serves and forehand winners. One of the few truly hard-fought points is the one that gave Flavio the first break point of the match at 4-4, the one that would have led him to serve for the set. Big Ben, however, lands a first serve at 232 km/h and is saved. In the tie-break it is obvious that the serve makes the difference and Shelton once again comes out on top. The break in the sixth game of the second set is what the American needs to reach the round of 16: here one of Tien or Rublev awaits.