Ben Shelton answered the opening bell in Melbourne with a straight-sets victory that mixed raw power with calm tiebreak chops.
The former Florida star beat France’s Ugo Humbert 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(5) in Round 1 of the 2026 Australian Open, a result that erased doubt about his recovery and set an aggressive tone for the week.
Shelton’s Straight-Set Statement
“I know Ben quite well. He’s physically really impressive.
Patrick Mouratoglou
Shelton laid down numbers that left little room for debate: he fired 15 aces, won 78% of his first serves and closed the match in under three hours, finishing in just 2 hours and 37 minutes, a tidy performance for the top American entrant.
The first set turned on Shelton’s return game and fearless forehand, which produced two breaks and a 5-2 edge that he held to take the opener and seize momentum against a tricky lefty opponent.
Shelton leaned on experience in tight moments and dominated the second-set tiebreak, allowing Humbert only two points before pulling ahead. “I’ve played a lot of great tiebreakers here, I’ve got a lot of experience, and I think that helped me a lot today,” he said.
The third set showcased Shelton’s finishing instincts, as he hit a flurry of winners late to close matters without surrendering a set and to underline why his baseline game is starting to look complete for best-of-five tests.
Statistically the closer moments were telling: Shelton produced 21 of his 43 winners in the third set and added five aces at the finish, a mix of endurance and sudden burst that opponents must respect on big points.
Next up is Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny, a local player who battled through the qualifying rounds and arrives with momentum and crowd support, standing as an awkward, hungry test for Shelton’s second-round plans in Melbourne.
Draw Dynamics And What Comes Next
Sweeny is listed in the draw at No. 182 and the source noted he beat France’s Gael Monfils, a result shown as 3-1, so the Australian will not be an easy walk even as Shelton carries favorite status on paper.
If Shelton keeps advancing he could meet World No. 31 Valentin Vacherot or wildcard World No. 114 Rinky Hijikata in Round 3, while No. 13 Casper Ruud and No. 21 Danil Shapovalov sit in the same quarter as potential foils for a deeper run.
On the rankings side Shelton entered Melbourne as the American No. 1 and No. 7 in the world, carrying 4,000 official points and a modest early-season boost after earning 40 points with a quarterfinal run in Auckland prior to arriving Down Under.
The math matters: grand slam defense hangs over every seed and Shelton has points to protect, because semifinalists in slams receive 720 points and failing to match last year’s deep showing could cost him a sizable chunk of his total, potentially a 360-point swing.
Physicality, Durability And The Long View
Observations about Shelton’s frame have followed him from juniors to the tour and drew vivid commentary from Patrick Mouratoglou, who said he was struck by Shelton’s back and overall mass while noting the unusual, powerful build that makes him stand out in the locker room.
The physical gifts come with caveats; Shelton has dealt with injuries, including a problem at the US Open last August, and he retired in a 2025 Grand Slam match with a shoulder issue, so durability will be monitored as he logs matches in Melbourne.
Still, the combination of muscle and movement seems to be improving into match wins, and the Australian Open draw offers both a genuine test and a chance to climb further in a season that could be pivotal for his ranking if he strings together a few deep runs.
Fans who remember Shelton’s semi loss to Jannik Sinner last year will be watching the bottom half of the draw closely, because a repeat meeting looms as a likely touchstone in any late-stage Melbourne scenario for the young American.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
