Shelton defeats Sonego in late-night Roland Garros five-setter

Ben Shelton survived a major scare on Sunday at Roland Garros, where he rallied from two-sets-to-one down against Lorenzo Sonego to win a late-night first-round thriller in Paris.

Shelton defeated Sonego in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year and ensured he made it two wins from two against the Italian in 2025, earning a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

”This was a tough one for sure,” Shelton said. “I played him in the quarters in Australia and I know he is a big-match player, a Grand Slam player and you guys saw some hot shots tonight and some crazy tennis from him. For me, I thought the crowd was great. It was my first time being out here on Court Philippe-Chatrier and it will not be one that I forget.”

The 13th-seeded American fired 15 aces and demonstrated great athleticism throughout the three-hour, 31-minute clash, scampering around the court to win the bruising baseline exchanges in the deciding set.

Shelton now holds a 7-3 fifth-set record and leads Sonego 3-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. The 22-year-old will next meet Hugo Gaston or French qualifier Ugo Blanchet.

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In other action, 15th seed Frances Tiafoe made a winning start against Roman Safiullin. The American earned a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 win to record his 50th major match victory.

In an aggressive display on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Tiafoe struck 42 winners and won 64 per cent of points on Safiullin’s second serve, according to Infosys Stats, en route to his two-hour, 23-minute triumph.

Tiafoe has only advanced beyond the second round in Paris once in nine previous appearances (2023). Aiming to improve on that record this year, the 27-year-old will next meet Pablo Carreno Busta after the Spaniard beat Francisco Comesana 6-2, 7-6(3), 7-5. It is the first time the former No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings Carreno Busta has won a match at the clay-court major since 2021, when he reached the fourth round.

Jenson Brooksby and Reilly Opelka joined countrymen Shelton and Tiafoe in the second round. The 24-year-old Brooksby beat Jaime Faria 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to earn his first win at Roland Garros. Brooksby will play Sebastian Korda or Luciano Darderi in the second round. Opelka defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6(3).

Frenchman Quentin Halys advanced after Tomas Machac was forced to retire when trailing 6-7(4), 1-4. Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo moved past 32nd seed Alex Michelsen 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while Fabian Marozsan downed Luca Nardi 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(3).