Shelton sizzles against Mensik, still hasn’t…

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The way he played at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers on Tuesday night, not many would have beaten Ben Shelton.

Shelton is backing up last year’s title nicely, easing into the semifinals without dropping a set.

His latest victory came against a fellow Masters winner capable of ripping serves, Jakub Mensik.

Mensik won the last two times they played but a scintillating Shelton prevailed 6-3, 6-1 in Montreal.

How about these stats: 18 winners, three unforced errors and 89 percent first-serve points won. Shelton didn’t face a break point and even unleashed a 147 mph serve.

“It felt great,” said Shelton. “I was very happy with my return game. The way that I played from the ground, from point one, for me, that’s where I want to be at.”

“I think the level I maintained throughout the match was really high. I’m super happy with my performance. Hope to continue to build on this in the semis.”

He won points in so many different ways against the 20-year-old Czech who held an impressive 10-11 record versus Top 10 opponents in his young career.

READ: No sign of Jodar slowing down as Spaniard tops Fils to reach NBO semis

On the second point of the match, Shelton made a statement. He bided his time at the baseline, outlasting Mensik in a 24-shot rally.

He kicked an ace out wide to completely fool Mensik at 1-2, before hot hands at the net got him to 30-0. Then Shelton scurried at the net to execute a forehand volley.

Trending upwards, it wasn’t a surprise when Shelton broke for 4-2, crushing a forehand down the line and forehand cross court from 30-all.

A shaken Mensik dropped serve at love to end the set, courtesy of a double fault.

Shelton’s fellow lefty, Rafael Nadal, was the last man to win back-to-back NBO titles, in 2018 and 2019.

Shelton looked like Nadal in the second game of the second set to break again for 2-0. He struck a backhand return winner down the line, then defended before authoring a backhand passing shot.

How did he wrap up the game? Bulldozing a backhand down the line.

In the back of his mind, Mensik must have thought that Shelton had to cool down.

It never did happen, though.

At 3-0, Shelton’s return landed on the baseline on the first point. Then he popped a forehand return winner. A double break went his way and minutes later, so did the match.

“To be returning the way I did tonight against one of the best servers in the world, someone who I’ve had a lot of trouble breaking in the times we’ve played, is super validating and just the tip of the iceberg for me,” said Shelton. “There are so many different ways my return can get better.”

When it ended, Shelton wrote on the camera lens, “not done yet.”

He looks very hard to stop.

The winner of the last quarterfinal on Tuesday, Learner Tien or Daniel Merida, will try.

Photo: Pascal Ratthé/Tennis Canada