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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Ben Shelton needed 2h38 and all his energy to get past Ugo Humbert on Thursday in the second round of the ATP 500 in Washington. The American, second seed, won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3) in an atmosphere that the man in question described as the "best atmosphere on the circuit."
The Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, which was sold out for this clash between the ninth and fourteenth players in the world, was buzzing for nearly three hours. Shelton, whose serve remains one of the most feared weapons on the circuit, had to battle like rarely before to overcome an inspired and aggressive Humbert from the first to the last point. The two men, who know each other well having faced off several times in recent months, put on a show that will remain in the tournament's memory.
The Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, which was sold out for this clash between the ninth and fourteenth players in the world, was buzzing for nearly three hours.
A breathless third set
Humbert pushed Shelton to his limits. Broken early in the decisive set, the French left-hander immediately pulled back before earning two break points at 3-3 on the opponent's serve. Shelton fended them off with courage, then held on until the tie-break. In that decisive game, the American raised his serving level to open a gap that the Messin could never close.
The Frenchman can have regrets. With 68% first serves and constant aggression on return, he pushed Shelton into areas where few players take him on American hard courts. The Californian admitted afterwards that he had to "dig into reserves" he didn't think he had. Humbert saved several match points before yielding, like a cruel summary of what he still lacks to break into the very best: that ability to close out when victory is within reach.
Shelton, ATP 500 specialist
This win brings Shelton to 15 wins and 2 losses in ATP 500 tournaments this season. After titles in Dallas in February and Munich in April, the world number nine confirms he is the man for big occasions outside Grand Slams and Masters 1000. Washington, where he reached the semifinals in 2024 and 2025, certainly suits him. The capital's crowd has adopted him, and this special relationship seems to carry him through tough moments.
Humbert, fourteenth in the ATP, leaves the American capital after a match that confirms his ability to compete with the top 10 on fast surfaces. His narrow loss to Shelton recalls his quarterfinal at Wimbledon last month: the Frenchman is knocking on the door, but it doesn't quite open yet. His progress on hard courts this season remains encouraging ahead of the US Open, which begins in three weeks.
The draw opens up
Shelton will face the winner of the duel between Aleksandar Vukic and Yoshihito Nishioka in the quarterfinals. Taylor Fritz and Alex De Minaur, the other two headliners, also booked their tickets on Thursday. Fritz dispatched Thanasi Kokkinakis in two sets while De Minaur controlled Christopher O'Connell. Young Spaniard Izan Jodar, 18, caused a sensation by eliminating Kei Nishikori in three sets.
With three Americans still in contention for a place in the last four, the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center crowd has plenty to savor. Shelton, for his part, doesn't hide his intentions. "I didn't come to make up the numbers," he warned. Last year, he stopped in the semifinals. This time, he wants the trophy, and the path to Sunday seems clearer than ever.
