Ben Shelton beat Lorenzo Sonego for the second straight time at a Grand Slam this year, winning 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 under floodlights to reach the second round of the French Open on Sunday.
The 13th-seeded American celebrated by eagerly waving his racket to the fans.
“I thought the crowd was great, it was my first time here on Court Philippe-Chatrier and it definitely won’t be one that I forget,” Shelton said at shortly after midnight, adding that he didn’t expect to sleep until “three or four” in the morning.
Shelton’s girlfriend, Trinity Rodman — who plays for the US women’s soccer team and is the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman — and Shelton's father, Bryan Shelton, who is also his coach, applauded from the stands, The Associated Press reported.
Shelton beat Sonego in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Sonego was going well this time, but Shelton broke to lead 2-1 in the fourth set and turned the match around.
Shelton took a medical timeout at the end of that set for treatment on his left ankle. He clinched victory with a sliced backhand that a full-stretch Sonego patted into the net.
Earlier Sunday, Lorenzo Musetti and Aryna Sabalenka eased into the second round without dropping a set.
The eighth-seeded Musetti won 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann of Germany, after the top-ranked Sabalenka earlier beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 6-0.
Jasmine Paolini, last year's runner-up at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, had a tougher first-round match. The fourth-seeded Italian dropped serve five times in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win against Yuan Yue on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Musetti has reached at least the semifinals in the past three Masters tournaments at Rome, Madrid and Monte Carlo, where he lost in the final to four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Musetti reached the semifinals on grass at Wimbledon last year, but has not reached the quarterfinals at any other major.
Still, he believes he can win the French Open.
“I feel ready to try to go for the trophy,” Musetti said. “I think clay probably is the surface which I feel the most comfortable.”
After winning his match, Musetti got a huge ovation from the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
