Did Shelton Achieve His 100th Tour-Level Win to Enter Toronto QF?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ben Shelton secured his 100th tour-level victory.
- He defeated Flavio Cobolli in a tightly contested match.
- Shelton now aims for his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal.
- He has been performing consistently on hard courts this year.
- Potential to rise to World No. 6 in ATP Rankings.
Toronto, Aug 4 (NationPress) Ben Shelton achieved a remarkable milestone by securing his 100th tour-level victory after defeating Flavio Cobolli with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(1) in the round of 16 at the Canadian Open, propelling him into the quarterfinals.
With a career record of 100-69 in tour-level matches, Shelton becomes the eighth player born in the 21st century and the ninth active American to hit the 100-wins mark. He now aims for another significant achievement—his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal—when he faces Alex de Minaur in his fourth quarter-final at this prestigious level.
Having reached the quarterfinals in three consecutive tournaments, including Wimbledon and last week’s semis in Washington, D.C., Shelton boasts a 16-7 record this year on hard courts, which includes his run to the Australian Open semifinals, as per ATP statistics.
In the opening set, Shelton showcased his skills, but the Italian challenger ramped up the pressure in the subsequent sets, making it tough for Shelton to maintain his powerful serve while effectively defending his own.
Cobolli claimed the second set and even served for the match at 5-4 in the third, but that's when the fourth seed stepped up his game. He broke back, nearly clinching the match in the 12th game, and dominated Cobolli’s service points during the tiebreak.
"I believe I performed well in rallying and managed to find ways to put returns in play late in the match. I faced challenges with my primary weapons, the serve and the first-ball forehand," Shelton reflected. "Emerging victorious in the end highlights my mental resilience and my ability to fight through those moments, rather than solely focusing on my performance."
Entering Toronto at a career-high in the PIF ATP Rankings, Shelton has the potential to surpass Novak Djokovic, moving up to World No. 6, by clinching his third ATP Tour title this week.