Ben Shelton emerged victorious in an all-American battle against compatriot Brandon Nakashima, winning 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 to secure his third ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal at Indian Wells on Wednesday.
At 22, Shelton became the youngest American man to reach the tournament’s last eight since Andy Roddick in 2004. He faced a tense moment in the first-set tiebreak, finding himself just two points from defeat at 6-6, but Nakashima faltered with a missed backhand volley and a netted shot.
From there, Shelton took full control, wrapping up the match in one hour and 34 minutes.
“For me, the second set was outstanding. Whenever you can get a two-break win in a set against a server like him, it’s really encouraging for where my level is at,” Shelton said.
“I’m pleased with my performance today. There are things I’m trying to add to my game each week, and I’m working to implement them here.”
