Ben Shelton’s serve was the foundation of his dominant win over Mackenzie McDonald in Washington. He fired nine aces and lost only seven points on serve throughout the match, never facing a break point. His ability to consistently hit first serves at high speeds—peaking at 145 mph—left McDonald scrambling and unable to mount pressure.
Clean and Aggressive Shotmaking
Shelton struck 23 winners in the match, showcasing his aggressive baseline play and sharp court positioning. His forehand dictated rallies, while his backhand remained steady under pressure. The combination of power and control allowed him to keep McDonald on the defensive and close out points efficiently.
Composure and Momentum
Coming off a quarter-final run at Wimbledon, Shelton entered Washington with confidence and rhythm. He maintained composure throughout the match, using short bursts of intensity to break McDonald’s rhythm. His movement on hard courts looked fluid, and his return game was sharp, winning 17 of 24 points on second-serve returns.
Final Score and Next Opponent
Shelton defeated McDonald 6-3, 6-4 in just 75 minutes. He now faces Gabriel Diallo in the round of 16, a rematch of their 2022 Challenger clash. With his serve firing and baseline game locked in, Shelton is poised to make a deep run in Washington.
Shelton in Washington, ranking, and results in 2025
Ranked world no.8 (career-high), the American achieved a 24-15 record in 2025. Shelton is currently competing in Washington where he bested the world no.95 Mackenzie Mcdonald 6-3 6-4.
Ben Shelton will take on the world no.35 Gabriel Diallo in the 3rd round. Their actual record is 1-0 for Diallo.
The American was the finalist in Munich (BMW Open).