Shelton holds off Fils’ fightback to join Zverev on top of the John McEnroe Group
In the evening session of the opening day of the ATP Finals in Turin, Ben Shelton beat Arthur Fils 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 59 minutes. The Frenchman snatched the second set with a roar, but the American broke at the start of the decider and never looked back.
Ben Shelton, ATP Finals 2026 | © Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse/Shutterstock/SIPA
Ben Shelton joined Alexander Zverev on one win in the John McEnroe Group on Sunday night in Turin, beating Arthur Fils 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 1 hour and 59 minutes in the evening session of the opening day of the ATP Finals. The American dominated for a set and a half behind his serve, saw the Frenchman fight back to level, then broke at the start of the decider and held on.
John McEnroe Group: provisional standings
| Rank | Player | Country | W-L | Sets | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alexander Zverev[1]
|
|
1-0 | 2-0 | 12-8 |
| 2 |
Ben Shelton[3]
|
|
1-0 | 2-1 | 15-11 |
| 3 |
Arthur Fils[6]
|
|
0-1 | 1-2 | 11-15 |
| 4 |
Rafael Jodar[8]
|
|
0-1 | 0-2 | 8-12 |
| Rank | Player | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, November 15 | |||
| 1 |
Alexander Zverev[1]
d. Rafael Jodar (8)
|
|
6-4, 6-4 |
| 2 |
Ben Shelton[3]
d. Arthur Fils (6)
|
|
6-2, 3-6, 6-3 |
Shelton untouchable on serve for a set and a half
Fils held to love in the opening game and showed plenty of resistance early on, saving four break points in a marathon game at 1-2 that went to deuce after deuce. But the Frenchman cracked on his next two service games: Shelton broke at 2-2, at the fifth attempt of the set, then again at 4-2, and served out the opener 6-2 at his second set point.
On his own serve, the American was out of reach. He did not face a single break point for more than a set and a half, and at one stage had won 27 of 32 points behind his serve, including 11 of 12 on his second ball.
Fils roars back
Fils never gave up, encouraging himself loudly between points and holding his service games in the second set. At 4-3, he finally found a way through: on his very first break point of the match, Shelton came in behind his serve and Fils passed him, before letting out one of the roars he is known for.
Serving for the set at 5-3, the Frenchman saved two break points, one of them with a service winner, and levelled the match at his first set point. In that second set, he held all five of his service games and won all three of his points at the net.
An early break settles the decider
Shelton struck straight back in the third set. After holding to love, he broke Fils in the second game, converting his fourth break point. The Frenchman had two chances to get back on serve at 4-1, but Shelton saved both, and again saved a break point with an ace when serving for the match at 5-3, before closing it out.
Shelton: “I hit my backhand great today”
After the match, Shelton singled out his backhand. “I hit my backhand great today. I thought that was a big key,” he said. “I knew he was going to try to open me up to my backhand. That’s a shot I have been working on a lot and I executed really, really well today.”
The American also described the conditions in Turin as very fast. “They say Paris was one of the fastest courts ever. I think with a little bit of altitude here, the ball is flying a little bit more,” he explained. “The conditions play slightly faster than Paris, in my opinion, but it’s comparable.”
Juan Carlos Ferrero was in his box for the first time, alongside his father. “It was great to have him and my dad together there, two guys that are hungry, excited,” Shelton said. “I’m sure they’re going to be happy with some things I did today and unhappy with others.” Told that Ferrero’s presence had not been expected, he smiled: “Maybe wasn’t expected for you, but… I knew.”
Shelton, the third seed, and Zverev both have one win after the opening day. Fils, the sixth seed and the first Frenchman at the event since 2016, and Jodar are both on 0-1. The top two in each group reach the semi-finals on Saturday 21 November.
