Shelton happy with ‘grit’ in straight-sets win over Fonseca at NBO

Shelton passed his biggest test yet in Montreal, beating the 19-year-old Brazilian with a hefty reputation, Joao Fonseca, to start Sunday’s evening session. 

His 6-3, 7-6 (3) win in front of girlfriend Trinity Rodman, who surprised him earlier in the day, meant that Shelton has won three straight matches in straight sets for the first time since the Australian Open. 

As a result, he is bound to have plenty left in the tank for his quarterfinal against either Jakub Mensik or Botic van de Zandschulp.

Then again, Shelton showed on the way to winning last year’s crown in Toronto that he is no stranger to outlasting opponents in deciding sets if he has to. 

“I thought I was tough day,” said Shelton. “Competed well. Struggled to find my footing on a lot of balls, as he did. I think a lot of it comes down to grit in a match like this on a night like this, when the tennis isn’t as clean, things aren’t as easy. “So, to come through with a win against a really high, high-quality player like Joao (Fonseca) is huge for me.”

Fonseca admitted to starting slowly in the previous round against Casper Ruud, when he faced five break points in his first two service games. 

But he started better versus the American in windy conditions, crushing a forehand down the line to break for 1-0. The Brazilian fans decked out in yellow at IGA Stadium lapped it up. Fonseca, though, dropped serve immediately — from 40-15 up in the next game.

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Shelton’s attacking tennis saved a break point at 2-2, then he pounced for 5-3 after Fonseca saw four game points slip away. 

His lefty forehand crosscourt lessened Fonseca’s chances of hitting that already famous forehand of his. Shelton, though, wavered early in the second, missing more. 

Fonseca took advantage to lead 3-0. 

When they played their first matchup in Munich in April, Shelton won in three and it seemed like meeting no. 2 was headed down that road again. But just as he had the momentum, Fonseca injured his right ankle hitting a smash down a break point. Unable to push off, on the next point, he sent a smash into the net and was later broken for 3-2. 

He didn’t call for the trainer, though. 

Fonseca survived at 5-5 by lashing a forehand on break point, but Shelton played a virtually flawless tiebreak, only missing one first serve. 

Shelton’s winners to unforced errors ratio was about even, with Fonseca hitting about double the unforced errors. 

While Shelton landed in a first Masters quarterfinal this year, Fonseca will have to wait to become the first Brazilian man to make the quarters in Canada since one of his idols, Gustavo Kuerten, in 1997. 

Photo: Pascal Ratthé / Tennis Canada