MELBOURNE, Australia — In a match between left-handers, American Ben Shelton overcame Ugo Humbert of France 6-3, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Shelton was a semifinalist a year ago here and was also semifinalist at the US Open in 2023.
Eighth-seeded Shelton said it was one of the toughest first-round matches he could have faced with Humbert ranked No. 33. If Humbert was ranked 32nd or better he would not have faced a seeded player in the opening round.
“I thought I stayed really calm today,” Shelton said. “On a court like this, playing Ugo in the first round is a tough draw. I felt I found some of my better tennis late in the match.”
In other men’s matches, fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti advanced when Raphael Collignon of Belgium retired in the fourth set. The result was 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when the Belgian player quit due to reported cramping and dizziness.
Also advancing were Eliot Spizzirri, who beat rising star Joao Fonseca, the 19-year-old Brazilian, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2; No. 15 Karen Khachanov; and Sebastian Baez, who outlasted Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
