Wednesday at the BMW Open by Bitpanda offered little relief from the chilly conditions in Munich, with temperatures only rising slightly and still posing a challenge for the players. Despite the cool weather, the action on court continues to heat up – with a dream quarterfinal clash between Ben Shelton and João Fonseca already set.
Shelton defeated Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6(8) in his second-round match. The No. 2 seed of the ATP 500 event fired four aces and won 71 per cent of his second-service points to secure victory in one hour and 46 minutes.
“Finding ways to win points without just serving or hitting through him was key today,” Shelton said after reaching his fifth quarterfinal of the season.
What does he expect from his first tour-level meeting with Fonseca on Friday? “He is a very complete player for his age. We have never played on the tour, but I hit with him in Mallorca. He has a great forehand, moves well and plays well on the backhand, too. I am definitely looking to mix things up and use everything I have.”
Shelton, who attended an FC Bayern Munich football match during his stay in the Bavarian capital last year, is already looking forward to the German record champions’ upcoming Champions League clash against Real Madrid. And what’s his prediction for tonight’s result? “I hope Bayern wins,” Shelton answered with a smile.
