Roland-Garros classic: Ben Shelton comes back from two sets down to win against Lorenzo Sonego

Ben Shelton, the 13th seed from the United States, delivered a remarkable performance in the first round of Roland-Garros 2025. Facing Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, Shelton overcame a two-sets-to-one deficit to secure a 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory in a match that lasted 3 hours and 31 minutes.


This win not only avenged his 2023 first-round loss to Sonego but also marked a significant milestone in his career.


Shelton started the match well, taking the first set with strong serves and aggressive play. But Sonego fought back, winning the next two sets by breaking Shelton’s rhythm and using his experience on clay courts. At that point, it seemed Shelton might face another early exit at the French Open.

However, Shelton showed great character, coming back strong in the fourth set, winning it 6-2 with more consistent groundstrokes and fewer unforced errors. Even after a brief medical timeout in the fifth set, Shelton maintained his focus and energy. He broke Sonego’s serve twice and won five straight games to close out the match.

Shelton’s powerful serve was a key factor. He hit 15 aces and kept Sonego under pressure throughout the match. This victory improved Shelton’s record in five-set matches to 7-3 and extended his lead against Sonego to 3-1 overall.

With this win, Shelton advances to the second round, where he will face either Hugo Gaston or Ugo Blanchet. This result shows that Shelton is growing into a serious contender on clay, a surface that often challenges young players.

Shelton, born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2002, began playing tennis at the age of 10 under the guidance of his father, Bryan Shelton, a former ATP player. He turned professional in 2022 after a standout college career at the University of Florida, where he clinched the 2021 NCAA men's team title and the 2022 NCAA singles title. Known for his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, Shelton has quickly risen through the ATP rankings, reaching a career-high No. 12 in March 2025.