Big-serving Ben Shelton storms into Australian Open second week
The No 8 seed Ben Shelton maintained his perfect sets-won record this week with a 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Valentin Vacherot, securing his seventh career Grand Slam second-week appearance.
Ben Shelton, Australian Open 2026 | © PsNewz
American Ben Shelton continued his clinical progression through the 2026 Australian Open draw on Saturday night, delivering a performance of high-octane power to dismiss Monégasque 30th seed Valentin Vacherot, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5).
The 23-year-old Shelton, currently ranked No 7 in the world, utilized his booming serve and aggressive baseline game to navigate a tight three-set encounter on the show courts of Melbourne Park. After sealing the victory with a 7-5 tiebreak win in the third set, Shelton walked to the television camera and wrote, USA ’til it’s backwards, a message that has become a hallmark of his high-energy presence on the tour.
The victory improves Shelton’s 2026 season record to 4-1 and ensures that he reaches the round of 16 in Melbourne for the third time in his career.
Shelton has yet to drop a set
Shelton has yet to drop a set this fortnight, having previously dispatched Australian Dane Sweeny and Frenchman Ugo Humbert in similarly efficient fashion. While the world No 31 Valentin Vacherot entered the match with momentum following wins over Rinky Hijikata and Martin Damm, he struggled to find answers for the variety and weight of Shelton’s delivery.
Reflecting on his current level compared to previous major runs, Shelton admitted that while he feels strong, he is still chasing the peak form he found last year. “I think that the best that I’ve played at a slam was up until I got injured at the US Open last summer. I think that this is probably second, but to be in the form that I’m in as early as it is in the year is really encouraging”, Shelton said during his post-match press conference.
He highlighted improvements in his technical repertoire, noting, “I think that I’m serving much better now. I think that the way that I’m able to flatten out the forehand and change speeds on the backhand with the slice, topspin, and flat balls, I’ve seen improvements, for sure.”
Five-set dominance
The match was held under the roof of the main arena as temperatures across Melbourne remained a concern, though the indoor conditions appeared to suit Shelton’s rhythm perfectly. Statistical analysts have pointed to Shelton’s remarkable consistency in the Grand Slam format, where his winning percentage is 18 percent higher in best-of-five matches compared to best-of-three encounters.
Shelton acknowledged this trend, suggesting that the longer format allows him to find his footing and troubleshoot on the court. “Yeah, I think I play my best tennis at these big tournaments. I think that the format and then also the atmosphere factor into that. For me, playing five sets, you have so much time. You can be free at times. You can swing free. Yeah, it feels like you have enormous amount of time to figure things out out there on the court. There’s no rush”, he explained.
A collision course with Cilic or Ruud
Shelton now prepares for a high-stakes fourth-round clash against the winner of the match between the No 12 seed Casper Ruud and Croatian veteran Marin Cilic. With seven Grand Slam second-week appearances now on his resume at just 23 years of age, Shelton is beginning to match the early-career consistency of top-tier rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
His ability to maintain a high floor in Melbourne, where he reached the quarterfinals in his debut year, makes him one of the most dangerous players remaining in the draw. As the tournament moves into the second week, Shelton’s “USA ’til it’s backwards” attitude and his refined service game suggest he is ready to challenge for his first major title.
