By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, April 25, 2025
Photo credit: Rolex
Surround sound sparked Ben Shelton to a stirring Madrid comeback win today.
Mariano Navone served for the match at 6-4, 5-4 as Stadium 3 fans were roaring Shelton support hoping for a third set.
The 12th-seeded Shelton heard the cheers and rocketed a running forehand down the line sparking his first break of the day.
Riding his electric lefty forehand, Shelton stormed past Navone 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 into the Mutua Madrid Open third round.
Shelton credited the crowd with his comeback—and showed it running over to the front row to high-five fans who voiced their support.
“For me, it was the crowd. I was having some struggles today,” Shelton told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “I wasn’t 100 percent locked in. I had to dig deep.
“The crowd definitely wanted to see a little more tennis, [they] kind of urged me on to get that break. Once I got over the hump, I hadn’t broke until that game…
“Once I finally did I loosened up and finally found that flow state.”
Riding the wave of energy engaged can create is nothing new for Shelton, a former all American at Florida who has played before his share of rowdy crowds—and relishes the experience.
Supportive fans helped Shelton focus.
“For me, I do have some focus issues—everyone has a little bit—I have a lot sometimes,” Shelton said. “For me, the crowd really helps me.
“It kind of helps me have fun…When I find that space when I’m having fun but competing hard then I play my best tennis.”
Traditionally, Shelton’s best tennis has come on hard court where he’s reached Grand Slam semifinals in New York City and Melbourne.
Embracing the clay-court challenge, Munich finalist Shelton has now won five of his last six dirt duels. Importantly, three of those five wins have come in three sets and displayed Shelton’s toughness and problem-solving skills.
Though his backhand is still a work in progress—Shelton sometimes stiff-arms that stroke and today he sometimes opted to play the floating one-handed slice rather than take a few extra steps, get his body behind the ball and smack his two-hander—but he’s moving more comfortably on clay and says finding his feet is helping his game grow—as is learning from losses like the one he took from Alexander Zverev in the Munich final.
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“I’m finding my identity, what I want to do and how I want to play and I think I’m finding my feet,” Shelton said. “I think this is the best I’ve moved since I’ve play on the red clay…
“For me, if I’m moving well, I’m playing well and I feel I’m moving well. I’m loving it. I’ve already played a lot of great clay-court players and I think I’ve learned something from each of them. I try to learn and try to take something from each match. I want to be great on this surface one day.
“I’m happy with my progress in going from winning two matches on this surface the first year playing on it to winning matches not every week, but more often.”
Today, Shelton saved nine of 11 break points and will need to play pressure points well against Miami Open champion and baseline powerhouse Jakub Mensik next.
