Ben Shelton cruised into the third round of the Cincinnati Masters when his opponent Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired with a knee injury. The American, currently ranked sixth in the world, was leading 6-3, 3-1 after 64 minutes of play when the Argentine was forced to withdraw.
"Definitely, it's not easy to play a couple of days after winning a title," Shelton admitted after the match.
The early exit came just three days after Shelton claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto. Despite the quick turnaround, he showed no signs of fatigue against Carabelli.
The injury occurred suddenly. Ugo Carabelli immediately grabbed his knee during the first point of the fourth game in the second set after an awkward movement while approaching the court. Following a medical timeout, the Argentine couldn't move freely and retired after Shelton completed his service game.
Meanwhile, Spain's Roberto Bautista also advanced earlier in the day. The world number 53 defeated Britain's Cameron Norrie (ranked 39th) with a solid 6-4, 6-3 performance in just under two hours.
Bautista will be Shelton's next opponent in Cincinnati. The head-to-head record clearly favors the American, who has won both their previous encounters in Grand Slam tournaments this year. Shelton defeated Bautista 6-2, 7-6, 7-5 in the first round of the Australian Open and 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the US Open.
Interestingly, Bautista's win against Norrie marked his first victory over the Brit after five previous defeats. The Spaniard seems to be finding his rhythm again, displaying the fluid and resilient tennis that has characterized his career.
Will Shelton continue his winning streak against Bautista, or can the experienced Spaniard find a way to upset the recently crowned Toronto champion? Cincinnati tennis fans have an intriguing third-round match to look forward to.
