National Bank Open Day 3: Alcaraz faces American Ben Shelton in his first match

Posted : 10 August 2023

The third day of the main draw at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers holds a special significance. This is when nearly all the singles players take the court, including seven out of the top eight seeds.

At 19:00 on Centre Court, world number one Carlos Alcaraz participated in his first match in Toronto against American Ben Shelton. In the previous year, the Spaniard had an unfortunate start in Montreal, exiting in the first round against Tommy Paul. This time around, he enters as the favorite and the enthusiastic fan response indicates their hopes to witness him in the final next Sunday.

Additionally, Wednesday was designated as Pride Day at the NBO, a tradition promoting inclusivity at the tournament. People were given rainbow-colored bracelets and flags upon entering the venue, and it was heartwarming to observe them proudly wearing and waving these symbols. The impact of this message of inclusion should extend beyond the event and persist throughout the year.

Simultaneously, Tennis Canada hosted the OUTSTANDING Conference on Gender Equity in Sport in Woodbridge. The keynote speaker for the event was Maria Sharapova, a former world number one and five-time Grand Slam champion. Sharapova reached the final in Toronto in 2009, eventually falling to Elena Dementieva. The conference's objective is to inspire participants to prioritize equity and drive lasting change within their communities.

In a surprising turn of events, American Mackenzie McDonald delivered the day's first upset by defeating the 6th-seeded Andrey Rublev in straight sets, with scores of 6-4 and 6-3. Rublev struggled on his serve, landing only 40 percent of his first serves in, while McDonald demonstrated resilience against the challenge he faced.

Milos Raonic faced no issues against qualifier Taro Daniel, securing a 6-4, 6-3 victory. Reflecting on his performance, Raonic stated, "After a good first-round match and considering that I haven't played consecutive matches for a while, I didn't expect to perform so well today. I knew it would be tough... But I think I executed well and believe I can do better tomorrow. I hope to build upon this."

With Rublev eliminated from that section of the draw, could this present an opportunity for Raonic to surpass expectations in Toronto? He has reached the quarterfinals three times before and notably the final in Montreal in 2013.

The highly anticipated match that marked world number one Carlos Alcaraz's debut in Toronto took place in the evening. He faced another promising young player, American Ben Shelton. The match offered a glimpse into the future of the sport.

Centre Court was packed, and Alcaraz received a thunderous standing ovation as he stepped onto the court. Shelton attempted to keep up with the defending Wimbledon champion, but Alcaraz secured a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory.

Shelton's impressive serve, regularly clocking over 230 km/h, and his agile movement for his stature were notable. Alcaraz summarized his initial experience in Toronto, stating, "It was really, really good. I enjoyed my first match in Toronto a lot. It feels like I've played here many times before."

Tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate seeing Alcaraz on the court again, but for this year, he will need to overcome Hubert Hurkacz (15th) on Thursday night at 19:00.

National Bank Open Day 3: Alcaraz faces American Ben Shelton in his first match

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