ATP Indian Wells: Ben Shelton mirrors Andy Roddick's feat

Ben Shelton is thru to his first Indian Wells quarter-final. The American confronted his compatriot Brandon Nakashima within the fourth spherical and earned a 7-6, 6-1 victory in an hour and 34 minutes. Thus, Ben turned the youngest American within the Indian Wells quarter-final since Andy Roddick in 2004!

Shelton claimed 17 factors greater than his opponent. He prevailed in a decent opener after standing two factors from shedding it two occasions. The 22-year-old took cost in set quantity two and sealed the deal with out points. Ben will face Jack Draper in a blockbuster quarter-final within the desert.

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Nakashima struggled to search out the primary serve. He dropped 44% of the factors in his video games and suffered three breaks from 5 possibilities provided to his opponent. Ben produced extra environment friendly numbers behind the primary and second serve.

He denied three of 4 break factors and sealed the deal in straight units. Shelton landed 26 winners and 18 unforced errors. He decreased Brandon to 9 winners and 21 errors, whereas constructing a large 23-9 benefit in service winners.

Ben Shelton, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot

Shelton hit nicely from the baseline and outplayed his rival 37-29. Each gamers saved two break factors within the opening video games of the duel. The youthful participant made a push on the return at 2-2 and cracked a backhand crosscourt winner for 3 break possibilities.

Nakashima netted a routine forehand on the primary, shedding serve at love and falling 3-2 behind. As an alternative of constructing on that, Ben performed a unfastened drop shot within the sixth recreation, struggling a break and bringing his opponent again to the optimistic aspect.

Ben Shelton, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot

They served nicely within the second a part of the set. Nakashima claimed the ninth recreation with a volley winner and held at 15 two video games later to maintain the stress on the opposite aspect. Shelton dealt with it properly and landed a service winner at 5-6 to introduce a tie break.

Ben led 4-2 earlier than dropping three straight factors. A left-hander responded with two service winners and created a set level at 6-5. Brandon erased it with a service winner and extended the battle. Shelton drew Nakashima’s volley error within the thirteenth level for a mini-break and his second set level.

He welcomed the rival’s forehand error, clinching the opener 7-6 in 63 minutes. Ben gained a large increase and wrapped up the second set in half an hour. He drew the rival’s mistake within the second recreation and clinched a break with one other following a forehand crosscourt assault.

A left-hander closed the third recreation with a service winner and painted a forehand crosscourt winner within the subsequent one for a break likelihood. He handed Nakashima on the internet with a operating forehand assault, delivering his second straight break and transferring 4-0 in entrance.

Shelton held at love in recreation 5 for 5-0 and served for the win at 5-1. The youthful American landed a volley winner on the internet for 3 match factors and transformed the primary with a forehand crosscourt winner, crusing excessive in model.