Ben Shelton grew up watching Roger Federer in action and now it is the turn of the Swiss maestro to watch him at Wimbledon.

Federer, who holds the record for most men’s titles won at SW19, was among those sitting in Court One as 21-year-old Shelton battled his way to a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, win over Denis Shapovalov. Making it the third match in a row he has played that has gone the full distance. Incredibly, he is the first player in the Open Era to have reached the fourth round of a major by winning three matches in five sets after dropping the opening set in all of them.  

As for his fitness levels, Shelton states that he is prepared to play more marathon matches if he is required to do so.

“I was telling my coaches that physically after this match today, it’s the best that I’ve felt in the last two or three months.” He said.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff on and off, and a lot of those issues have kind of subdued. So I’m really happy with where my body is at right now.
“I’m 100% ready to go the distance. If it happens to go five sets again tomorrow, I’ll be ready to go the whole way.”

Despite making only his eighth appearance in a Grand Slam main draw, Shelton has already proven his credentials on the man stage. Last year he reached the semi-finals of the US Open before getting stopped in his tracks by Novak Djokovic. On the ATP Tour, he won two titles at the Tokyo Open last year and then Houston in April. 

Overseeing Shelton’s rise in the sport is his coach and father Byran, who reached the last 16 of Wimbledon 30 years ago when as a qualifier he stunned second seed Michael Stich in the first round. 

“I think a lot more impressive was what he was able to do it (reach the Wimbledon fourth round) back in the day, beating the No. 2 player in the world as 50-something in the world,” Shelton replied when comparing the two achievements.
“I’m really happy that we get to kind of share this moment together.
“I’m just looking forward to this next match. We’ve been working really well together on the court.”

As to what exactly is going well, the tennis star believes a rule change has helped him. For the first time at The All England Club this year, coaching is allowed from the sidelines during matches.

“I think that the information that he’s (Shelton’s coach) able to give me during the match, he can help keep me in the right state of mind.” He said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the kind of back and forth that we’ve been able to have during the matches.”

Next up for the American is a meeting with world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who had the luxury of playing his third round match on Friday. Shelton has beaten the top seed before at the 2023 Shanghai Masters but has lost to him twice since then without winning a set. 

“It’s a great opportunity for me, a great challenge and test. The biggest challenge in tennis playing the top-ranked player in the world. But I’m never somebody to be scared going into a match or feel unprepared. I’m always confident in my abilities no matter who is on the other side of the net.” He concluded. 

Alexander Zverev rallied his way into the last 16 at Wimbledon despite having multiple treatments on his knee after suffering a tumble halfway through his third round match. 

The fourth seed beat Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(15), to continue his perfect record against the Brit, who he now leads 6-0 in their ATP Tour head-to-head. He has won 21 consecutive matches against last-handed players and is through to the fourth round at SW19 for the third time in his career. Zverev is yet to drop a set in the tournament. 

“Cam is an incredible player, grass is his favourite surface, so I knew I had to play my highest level.” He said afterwards.
“It’s an honour to play on Centre Court, we had so many great guests in the Royal Box today, a football legend in Pep Guardiola. 
“When I saw Pep I got so nervous, so it’s a great privilege and honour to play.”

Coming into the third round encounter, Zverev had only dropped 15 games in the tournament which was almost half the amount of Norrie’s (29). The German first struck seven games into the match by hitting a wide forehand shot to draw an unforced error from Norrie and broke for 4-3. Two games later, he earned his first set point but failed to capitalise before sealing out the opener in less than 40 minutes.

Zverev then faced a new challenge after suffering a nasty fall close to the net and jarring his left knee. Prompting a halt in play as the trainer came out to assess his injury. Immediately afterwards, he was moving gingerly around the court before quickly finding his footing again. A huge relief for the tennis player who previously retired from a major semi-final after suffering a mid-match injury at the 2022 French Open.

On the court, he took the second frame by breaking Norrie once before closing it out with a smash at the net. Then in the third, the home player continued to produce stern resistance and drew cheers from the crowd when he unexpectedly hit an underarm ace to move ahead 6-5. However, Zverev was still able to weather the storm by coming through a marathon 32-point tiebreak that saw him fail to convert five match points and save five set points before sealing victory with the help of a Norrie error. 

“It is what it is, I managed. I do feel restricted, but I will check it out and see what it is.” Zverev later commented on his knee.
“If I’d have dropped my level I’d have had no chance.”

Zverev has won 97 Grand Slam matches so far in his career. He is yet to drop serve at Wimbledon this year. 

“I’m happy that it’s working the way it is,” he said. 
“I’ve spent hours and hours just working purely on my serve.”

Zverev will next play either Alejandro Tabilo or Taylor Fritz. 

Alex de Minaur has sealed his place in the last 16 at Wimbledon for the second time in his career in unfortunate circumstances. 

The world No.9 was set to take to the court on Saturday to play qualifier and former top 10 player Lucas Pouille. However, the Frenchman has been forced to pull out of the tournament due to an abdominal injury. Making it the first time in this year’s tournament that a singles player has won a match without playing a point as the result of a walkover. 

Fears about Pouille’s fitness started earlier in the week when he received medical treatment during his second round meeting against Thanasi Kokkinakis, who coincidentally retired from the third set of that encounter after slipping and injuring his knee. 

“I called the physiotherapist, he put two tapes on me. I told him to put on the thing that holds the most,” Pouille said after his match against Kokkinakis on Thursday. 
“I don’t know what I have, we’re going to do the exams and treatments to give ourselves a chance to be as good as possible and, above all, on the court on Saturday.” 

Sadly for Pouille, he wasn’t able to get fit enough in time for today’s match. 

Meanwhile, de Minaur has become the third active male player from Australia to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon on multiple occasions after Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. Coming into this year’s draw he has experienced mixed results on the grass after winning his ninth ATP title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch before losing in the first round at Queen’s. 

“What’s driving me this Wimbledon is that I need to put up a decent performance here on the grass because I don’t want to be classified as a clay court specialist,” joked de Minaur who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open earlier this year.
“So I’m pushing hard. I’m trying to keep on going. Hopefully I can have a better result.”

The ninth seed will next play either Arthur Fils or Roman Safiullin.