US high seed Ben Shelton’s preparation for the Australian Open was dealt a blow Wednesday with an upset loss to Czech teen sensation Jakub Mensik on the Auckland Traditional.
Taking part in his first match in almost two months, world quantity 21 Shelton was overwhelmed 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 7-5 within the second spherical by the highly effective Mensik.
A conflict of two of the world’s premier younger gamers ended after greater than two and a half hours when Shelton’s serve was damaged for the primary time, within the twelfth sport of the third set.
The 22-year-old American, who acquired a bye via the primary spherical, served strongly however couldn’t match the consistency of his 19-year-old opponent’s groundstrokes.
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Left-hander Shelton could have little match play below his belt heading to the Grand Slam match in Melbourne, having not beforehand performed since representing the US within the Davis Cup almost two months in the past.
World quantity 49 Mensik faces a quarter-final towards the highest-ranked participant remaining in Auckland, Portuguese seventh seed Nuno Borges.
The match’s high 4 seeds all tumbled out within the second spherical.
Second seed and defending champion Alejandro Tabilo of Chile was toppled in three units by American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy.
Argentine third and fourth seeds Sebastian Baez and Francisco Cerundolo have been each eradicated in straight set defeats.