Latest news with #Shelton
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz shows sportsmanship by conceding a point in win over Ben Shelton
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz conjured up what initially appeared — to the chair umpire, to everyone watching in the stands or on TV and to his opponent, Ben Shelton — a remarkable lunging volley to win a point at the French Open on Sunday. But Alcaraz knew it shouldn't count. So after briefly thinking about it, the defending champion at Roland-Garros fessed up and called himself for breaking the rules, handing the point to Shelton during what would become a 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory for Alcaraz in the fourth round. 'It's a shame, because it was the 'Hot Shot' of the day,' Alcaraz said later with a smile. 'Crazy shot,' Shelton said. Here's what happened: Early in the second set, Shelton whipped a passing shot well out of Alcaraz's reach up at the net. So Alcaraz flung his racket — and, as his equipment flipped through the air, its strings somehow not only made contact with the ball but sent it back over the net and onto the other side of the court. Initially, the second-seeded Alcaraz was awarded the point. But he went over to the chair umpire to admit that he wasn't holding his racket when it touched the ball. That's not allowed, so he conceded the point to Shelton, an American seeded 13th. When the official informed the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd what had happened, Alcaraz was given a round of applause. 'I thought, 'OK, I could not say anything.' But I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything,' Alcaraz explained. 'It's just about if I know that I didn't (do), or I did, a wrong thing. ... I have to say. I have to be honest with myself. I have to be honest with Ben, with everyone. ... It's just about the respect we have against each other, and I think that sports, in general, should be like this.' It came at what could have been a critical moment, because instead of leading 40-30 on his serve, Alcaraz was now down 30-40, giving Shelton his first break point of the match. But Alcaraz saved that one — and five others in that 20-point game — along the way to taking a two-set lead in an entertaining matchup between a pair of 22-year-olds who hit the ball hard.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shelton confident he is closing gap to top players despite Alcaraz defeat
PARIS: World number 13 Ben Shelton is confident he is cutting the distance dividing him to top players despite his loss to defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round on Sunday. Shelton, 22, pushed the world number two to four sets and though the Spaniard proved to be too good on the day, there were still plenty of positive takeaways. "For me, this is the closest that I've felt in a match against him, and the most pressure that I thought that I've applied, the most comfortable that I felt in the baseline exchanges, the best I've hit my open-stance backhand when he's put pressure there," he told a press conference. Shelton has now lost all three matches against Alcaraz but Sunday's was the first where he took a set. "In that way, it also being a clay court is kind of ironic, arguably his better surface, and arguably my least-experienced surface." Shelton had never before made it into the fourth round and he was one of eight Americans - five women and three men - to reach that stage in Paris, breaking a 40-year-old record. "There are a lot of positives to take from that because I feel like my game is improving a lot," he said. Shelton also lost to world number one Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open semi-final in January but that gap to the top has been closing, he said. He trails the Italian 5-1 in their head-to-head. "I don't want to be disrespectful and just be 'I'm right there' but I feel like I am close to starting to win some matches like that, give guys a run for their money more often, and have these deeper runs more consistently." "Not two bad guys to lose to. Those two matches I've lost at Slams this year, I consider myself a really good Grand Slam match player.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Alcaraz hopes to learn from mistakes ahead of Paul quarter-final
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz eliminated "dumb mistakes" from his game to see off Ben Shelton on Sunday and hoped to learn from his experience to avoid another tough workout when he plays American Tommy Paul in the French Open quarter-finals. The defending champion was put through the wringer in his third-round match by Damir Dzumhur and was unable to show his usual aggressive side against Shelton, who dragged him into battle before losing 7-6(8) 6-3 4-6 6-4. "I was really focused and trying to show my good tennis, playing aggressively, hitting great shots," Alcaraz said. "In the beginning it was difficult for me to play at that level. I just tried to play more solid than aggressive. Probably I made dumb mistakes that I had to go for it all the time. I found the right way in the match. "I tried to keep it in that direction, but tennis is like that. One round you're playing against one opponent and the next round you're playing a totally different game so you have to get used to the game from the opponent." While Shelton may not be the most natural player on clay, Paul represents a different kettle of fish and Alcaraz said he was aware of what could be in store for him when they meet in the last eight. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough. In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all," Alcaraz said. "I lost a few matches against him as well. He's in the quarter-finals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence, I'm pretty sure. It's going to be an interesting match.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Watch: Carlos Alcaraz showcases incredible sportsmanship in conceding 'shot of the day' point
Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion at Roland Garros, displayed remarkable sportsmanship during his fourth-round victory against Ben Shelton on Sunday, voluntarily conceding a point for an illegal shot that initially appeared to be a spectacular volley, leading to a 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident occurred early in the second set when Shelton hit a passing shot beyond Alcaraz's reach at the net. Alcaraz's racket, which he had thrown, made contact with the ball and sent it back over the net. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. The chair umpire initially awarded the point to Alcaraz, but the second-seeded player approached the official to acknowledge that he wasn't holding his racket when it touched the ball, which is against the rules. The crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier applauded Alcaraz's honest admission, and the point was awarded to Shelton, the 13th-seeded American. "It's a shame, because it was the 'Hot Shot' of the day," Alcaraz said later with a smile. "Crazy shot," Shelton remarked. "I thought, 'OK, I could not say anything.' But I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz explained later. "It's just about if I know that I didn't [do], or I did, a wrong thing. ... I have to say. I have to be honest with myself. I have to be honest with Ben, with everyone. ... It's just about the respect we have against each other, and I think that sports, in general, should be like this." The moment came at a crucial point in the match, turning what would have been a 40-30 lead for Alcaraz into a break point opportunity for Shelton. Alcaraz managed to save that break point and five others in a 20-point game, eventually securing a two-set lead in the match between the two 22-year-old power hitters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "I thought it was clean, you know? I thought he hit the volley, and [then] the racket flew out of his hand," Shelton said. "I was kind of surprised that he was, like, 'No, I let go of the racket and threw it.' ... Obviously a guy with a lot of sportsmanship."
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Angry' Alcaraz wins mind battle, 100th clay victory
Carlos Alcaraz is such a constant ray of sunshine on court that it always seems a surprise when a darker, chuntering mood descends. Yet the Spaniard was still able to win the battle with his own mind to earn his 100th tour clay-court victory and advance to the French Open quarter-finals. The 22-year-old subdued dangerous Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, meaning he's now lost a set in each of the last three matches of his title defence. They've all featured spells of familiar stellar quality but also careless patches - "dumb mistakes" as Alcaraz dubbed them - that have begun to irritate him even if, in truth, they've never looked like derailing him. Still, just as he laboured a little to get past Damir Dzumhur in the previous round, there was evidently a slight feeling of relief for the 22-year-old that he had at last managed to get past the booming US leftie Shelton in three hours 19 minutes. "Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to calm myself - in some moments I was mad. "I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I'm happy that I didn't let that thought play against me. "I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going." He did keep going and the crowd couldn't have loved him more, especially when he owned up that one seemingly amazing winner he'd hit shouldn't count. He had flung his racquet out at full stretch to get to a Shelton passing shot and, miraculously, pulled off what looked to everyone like a winning volley. He was awarded the point, but admitted to the chair umpire that his hand wasn't holding the racquet and got a rousing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. "I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz explained. "It's just about the respect we have against each other." Alcaraz, after 19 wins in 20 clay-court matches this season now, will be hot favourite to get past his next obstacle too, even though 12th seed Tommy Paul looked a potentially troublesome last-eight foe as he outclassed Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3. The first American man to reach the French Open quarters in 22 years since Andre Agassi, Paul loves pitting himself against the Spaniard and had beaten him a couple of times, though Alcaraz won their last encounter at Roland Garros in the Olympic quarter-final. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough," said Alcaraz. "In grand slams, Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. His level is really high right now. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy." Frances Tiafoe was another American to progress, defeating Daniel Altmaier, the German who had knocked out his US compatriot Taylor Fritz, 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Tiafoe's next opponent will be Italian No.8 seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a match that ended after midnight. Carlos Alcaraz is such a constant ray of sunshine on court that it always seems a surprise when a darker, chuntering mood descends. Yet the Spaniard was still able to win the battle with his own mind to earn his 100th tour clay-court victory and advance to the French Open quarter-finals. The 22-year-old subdued dangerous Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, meaning he's now lost a set in each of the last three matches of his title defence. They've all featured spells of familiar stellar quality but also careless patches - "dumb mistakes" as Alcaraz dubbed them - that have begun to irritate him even if, in truth, they've never looked like derailing him. Still, just as he laboured a little to get past Damir Dzumhur in the previous round, there was evidently a slight feeling of relief for the 22-year-old that he had at last managed to get past the booming US leftie Shelton in three hours 19 minutes. "Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to calm myself - in some moments I was mad. "I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I'm happy that I didn't let that thought play against me. "I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going." He did keep going and the crowd couldn't have loved him more, especially when he owned up that one seemingly amazing winner he'd hit shouldn't count. He had flung his racquet out at full stretch to get to a Shelton passing shot and, miraculously, pulled off what looked to everyone like a winning volley. He was awarded the point, but admitted to the chair umpire that his hand wasn't holding the racquet and got a rousing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. "I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz explained. "It's just about the respect we have against each other." Alcaraz, after 19 wins in 20 clay-court matches this season now, will be hot favourite to get past his next obstacle too, even though 12th seed Tommy Paul looked a potentially troublesome last-eight foe as he outclassed Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3. The first American man to reach the French Open quarters in 22 years since Andre Agassi, Paul loves pitting himself against the Spaniard and had beaten him a couple of times, though Alcaraz won their last encounter at Roland Garros in the Olympic quarter-final. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough," said Alcaraz. "In grand slams, Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. His level is really high right now. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy." Frances Tiafoe was another American to progress, defeating Daniel Altmaier, the German who had knocked out his US compatriot Taylor Fritz, 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Tiafoe's next opponent will be Italian No.8 seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a match that ended after midnight. Carlos Alcaraz is such a constant ray of sunshine on court that it always seems a surprise when a darker, chuntering mood descends. Yet the Spaniard was still able to win the battle with his own mind to earn his 100th tour clay-court victory and advance to the French Open quarter-finals. The 22-year-old subdued dangerous Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, meaning he's now lost a set in each of the last three matches of his title defence. They've all featured spells of familiar stellar quality but also careless patches - "dumb mistakes" as Alcaraz dubbed them - that have begun to irritate him even if, in truth, they've never looked like derailing him. Still, just as he laboured a little to get past Damir Dzumhur in the previous round, there was evidently a slight feeling of relief for the 22-year-old that he had at last managed to get past the booming US leftie Shelton in three hours 19 minutes. "Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to calm myself - in some moments I was mad. "I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I'm happy that I didn't let that thought play against me. "I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going." He did keep going and the crowd couldn't have loved him more, especially when he owned up that one seemingly amazing winner he'd hit shouldn't count. He had flung his racquet out at full stretch to get to a Shelton passing shot and, miraculously, pulled off what looked to everyone like a winning volley. He was awarded the point, but admitted to the chair umpire that his hand wasn't holding the racquet and got a rousing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. "I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz explained. "It's just about the respect we have against each other." Alcaraz, after 19 wins in 20 clay-court matches this season now, will be hot favourite to get past his next obstacle too, even though 12th seed Tommy Paul looked a potentially troublesome last-eight foe as he outclassed Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3. The first American man to reach the French Open quarters in 22 years since Andre Agassi, Paul loves pitting himself against the Spaniard and had beaten him a couple of times, though Alcaraz won their last encounter at Roland Garros in the Olympic quarter-final. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough," said Alcaraz. "In grand slams, Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. His level is really high right now. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy." Frances Tiafoe was another American to progress, defeating Daniel Altmaier, the German who had knocked out his US compatriot Taylor Fritz, 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Tiafoe's next opponent will be Italian No.8 seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a match that ended after midnight. Carlos Alcaraz is such a constant ray of sunshine on court that it always seems a surprise when a darker, chuntering mood descends. Yet the Spaniard was still able to win the battle with his own mind to earn his 100th tour clay-court victory and advance to the French Open quarter-finals. The 22-year-old subdued dangerous Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, meaning he's now lost a set in each of the last three matches of his title defence. They've all featured spells of familiar stellar quality but also careless patches - "dumb mistakes" as Alcaraz dubbed them - that have begun to irritate him even if, in truth, they've never looked like derailing him. Still, just as he laboured a little to get past Damir Dzumhur in the previous round, there was evidently a slight feeling of relief for the 22-year-old that he had at last managed to get past the booming US leftie Shelton in three hours 19 minutes. "Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind," said Alcaraz. "I just tried to calm myself - in some moments I was mad. "I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I'm happy that I didn't let that thought play against me. "I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going." He did keep going and the crowd couldn't have loved him more, especially when he owned up that one seemingly amazing winner he'd hit shouldn't count. He had flung his racquet out at full stretch to get to a Shelton passing shot and, miraculously, pulled off what looked to everyone like a winning volley. He was awarded the point, but admitted to the chair umpire that his hand wasn't holding the racquet and got a rousing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. "I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz explained. "It's just about the respect we have against each other." Alcaraz, after 19 wins in 20 clay-court matches this season now, will be hot favourite to get past his next obstacle too, even though 12th seed Tommy Paul looked a potentially troublesome last-eight foe as he outclassed Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3. The first American man to reach the French Open quarters in 22 years since Andre Agassi, Paul loves pitting himself against the Spaniard and had beaten him a couple of times, though Alcaraz won their last encounter at Roland Garros in the Olympic quarter-final. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough," said Alcaraz. "In grand slams, Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. His level is really high right now. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy." Frances Tiafoe was another American to progress, defeating Daniel Altmaier, the German who had knocked out his US compatriot Taylor Fritz, 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). Tiafoe's next opponent will be Italian No.8 seed Lorenzo Musetti, who beat 10th seed Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a match that ended after midnight.
