The future of tennis took center stage at Rogers Arena on a Friday afternoon as two of the sport’s most dynamic young stars kicked off Day 1 action in 2023. The match featured a showdown between 19-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils and 20-year-old American Ben Shelton, a fitting contest held on a converted ice rink typically home to the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
In a physical encounter lasting one hour and 18 minutes, Team World’s Shelton and Team Europe’s Fils engaged in an intense battle of groundstrokes, reminiscent of the fierce exchanges seen in hockey. The match had everything, except for a good cross-check.
With tennis legend Roger Federer, a co-founder of the tournament and a 20-time major singles champion, observing from the sidelines, Shelton, ranked 19th, emerged victorious in this youth-on-youth showdown, securing a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory. This early win provided the defending champions, donning their distinctive red jackets, with momentum and a 1-0 lead, marking the first time in the competition’s six-year history that Team World had taken the opening point.
Shelton, the son of former ATP pro Bryan Shelton, who has coached him both in collegiate and professional tennis, credited the enthusiastic crowd for motivating him. He expressed his desire to set the tone for Team World on that day.
“It was quite special,” noted Team World Vice-Captain Patrick McEnroe. “He’s well-suited to this type of environment. He thrives on the team spirit, and I think the team derives energy from him. His presence on the court is highly invigorating, and as part of the team, you naturally respond to that.”
The match began intensely, with neither player relinquishing a single point on their serve in the first four games. Despite the challenge, Shelton only conceded seven points while serving in the set. In the tiebreak, Shelton had to mount a comeback from a 1-4 deficit but managed to claim six consecutive points.
“When someone serves as brilliantly as Arthur did initially, it creates significant pressure to match his level, particularly when he serves first,” Shelton remarked. “So, I felt that pressure right from the start, but I’m pleased with how I responded. Whenever he produced a great service game or played some exceptional points, I felt I responded in kind.”
Fils, in contrast, acknowledged Shelton’s consistent and powerful serves, particularly in critical moments. “He consistently delivered aces,” said Fils. “At 5-4, deuce, in the first set, I thought perhaps he would struggle and feel nervous. But no, he delivered aces. He performed at a high level. His serve played a pivotal role.”
Brimming with confidence after becoming the youngest American man to reach the US Open semifinals since Michael Chang in 1992, Shelton secured a crucial break for a 3-1 lead in the second set, a lead he maintained until the end.
Shelton, the 2022 NCAA singles champion at the University of Florida, showcased his serving prowess with seven aces and only a solitary double fault. Remarkably, he did not face a single break point throughout the match.
Shelton attributed his success to the valuable guidance he received from another left-handed tennis legend, Team World Captain John McEnroe. “It’s incredible, the few pieces of advice I picked up from him over the last few days,” Shelton said. “Being around him has been a fantastic experience.”
Shelton admitted that he did not necessarily feel in top form during practice sessions earlier in the week in Vancouver. However, everything changed during a Friday morning hitting session with his teammate and compatriot Tommy Paul. Shelton recalled, “I felt like everything was perfect.”