MELBOURNE, Australia — Alexei Popyrin has been unable to safe a maiden Grand Slam fourth spherical look, taking place to American Ben Shelton in straight units on Saturday.
Popyrin, backed by a wholesome pro-Australian crowd on John Cain Area, began brightly earlier than the Florida Gators product Shelton took management of the match, dictating factors from the baseline with the assistance of an enormous serve.
In a second set tiebreak, Shelton raced to a 4-1 lead earlier than Popyrin clawed his manner again to 4-5. Nonetheless Shelton, a left-hander, steadied to take the set and the wind out of the sails of the parochial crowd.
From there, the American sailed via his service video games, and broke the Australian within the tenth sport of the set, profitable 6-3, 7-6(4) 6-4.
This yr’s Australian Open is Shelton’s first main event exterior the US, having performed on on the school circuit for various years.
In his on-court interview following the win, Shelton mentioned he was blissful along with his stage of aggression — at one level he pulled out a 197km/h second serve — and mentioned silencing the group was key to constructing momentum.
“I do know I got here from faculty tennis and I believed it was rowdy there, however this stadium is one thing particular,” he mentioned of John Cain Area.
“I do know that you simply guys had been going to your hometown boy and I did not have many of the crowd, however due to everybody on the market supporting me. It was nice enjoyable to be out on court docket.”
Shelton will face fellow American J.J. Wolf within the fourth spherical on Monday.