Qualifier Otto Virtanen has delivered a stunning upset at Wimbledon, knocking out fourth seed Ben Shelton in a thrilling five-set match, marking a significant moment in the tournament.
IMAGE: Ben Shelton of the US reacts during his first round match against Finland’s Otto Virtanen. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters
Key Points
Qualifier Otto Virtanen defeated fourth seed Ben Shelton at Wimbledon.
The match was a gripping five-set battle, ending 6-3, 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 (11-9).
Shelton held a match point but failed to convert, allowing Virtanen to secure the win.
Virtanen extended his dream run, marking his fourth straight victory at SW19.
This result is considered one of Wimbledon’s standout upsets so far.
Fourth seed Ben Shelton accidentally hit a ballboy with a stinging ace and then felt plenty of pain himself as the highest-ranked player to fall in the men’s first round draw at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
“Tough loss. One of the toughest losses I’ve taken,” said the top-ranked American after Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, 140th in the world, prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-6 (11-9) in a Court Two match lasting nearly 4-1/2 hours.
“I feel like it was an uphill battle all day today.”
‘I played until the last ball’
It was the first time Shelton had been dumped out of the third grand slam of the year at the first hurdle and, with champion Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic in the other side of the draw, it was a big missed opportunity.
“I came in playing really good tennis. I didn’t even think I played a poor match today. Things just didn’t go my way,” said the Australian Open quarter-finalist, whose ace hit the ballboy in the midriff during the third set.
Shelton, who put his hand up and checked the ballboy was OK, moved 8-5 up in the final tiebreak and had a match point at 9-8 but then squandered the chance.
“I don’t know if I have a heart any more. I think it bounced out of my body but I’m here, I played until the last ball,” said Virtanen.
If there was any consolation for Shelton it was that his defeat was hardly the biggest headline of the day involving an American player.