World number 49 Jakub Mensik upset world number 7 Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 7-5 to reach the quarter final at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Mensik reached his seventh ATP Tour level quarter final and his second of the 2025 season.
Mensik has drawn level to 1-1 in his head-to-head matches against Shelton.
Neither player was able to break the other’s serve in the first set. Mensik raced out to a 6-1 lead in the tie-break and closed out the first set 7-6 (7-2) with three mini-breaks after 57 minutes.
Shelton earned the first break in the third game to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. The US player saved four break points in the sixth game before serving out his second set point in the 10th game.
Both players went on serve in the eighth game of the third set. Shelton saved a break point in the ninth game. Mensik earned two match points in the ninth game. Shelton had a break point, but none of them was converted.
Shelton saved three further match points to hold serve at deuce in the 10th game when he served at 4-5, but Mensik broke Shelton on the fourth match point, when Shelton went long on his forehand. “It was a tough match, especially mentally, so many chances to break him. We played three sets and I did not break him, so fortunately in the last game”, said Mensik.
