Roland-Garros: Alcaraz beats Shelton in high-quality contest to make last eight

Carlos Alcaraz edged out Ben Shelton 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Sunday. He’ll face American Tommy Paul, the No 12 seed, in the next round

1 June 2025

Ben Shelton and Carlos Alcaraz, Roland-Garros 2025 | © Michtof / PsnewZ

Tennis Majors

Roland Garros •Round of 16 • Completed

See draw

B. SheltonvsC. Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, edged out American Ben Shelton, the No 13 seed, 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros. Alcaraz, who has now dropped a set in three of his four matches, remains on course to defend the title he won in 2023.

He became the fifth man in the Open Era to reach at least four Roland-Garros quarter-finals before turning 23, joining Björn Borg (5), Mats Wilander (5), Rafael Nadal (4), and Andre Agassi (4).

In what was a high-quality and engrossing encounter from the start, defending champion Alcaraz showed once again he still has the edge over his generational rival.

The American came close to clinching a very competitive opener, only for Alcaraz to save three set points before moving into a one-set lead. “At the beginning it was difficult for me to play in that level, Alcaraz said. “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 yeah, I mean, tennis is like this.”

Shelton’s regrets on the first set

This set happened to be Shelton’s main regret after the match. “Disappointed about the way the first set ended, he said spontaneously to the media. “I think that for me I always feel that in the slams, if I can get the first set, it’s kind of a runaway train, and it’s really tough. I make it really tough on the opponent, especially if I keep that level. Getting into the fourth or fifth set, if I have a lead, I feel really confident.”

A single break was enough for the Spaniard in the second, before a late break for Shelton in the tenth and final game of the third set reignited the contest and sent it to a deserved fourth.

Shelton battled to the end, with some breathtaking rallies that had graced earlier stages of the match extending into the final stanza, before Alcaraz eventually came through to reach his fourth straight Roland-Garros quarter-final.

“Every time we face each other I said we brought the level to the top. We entertained the people. He is a really powerful player. He can make any shots,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.

“I think we played a really great tennis. Drops, coming to the net, big shots, and we stayed there in the whole match. For me, it is great having Ben around, a great energy for tennis and for the people I love watching him play.”

Alcaraz, ranked No 2, will face American Tommy Paul, the No 12 seed, next.