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Shelton Powers Past Diallo to Reach Washington Open Quarterfinals

Firing 16 aces with a 93 percent first-serve win rate highlighted his serve-based dominance on hard courts.

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Jul 22, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Ben Shelton (USA) salutes the crowd after his match against Mackenzie McDonald (USA)(not pictured) in a men's singles match on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Ben Shelton defeated Gabriel Diallo 6-3, 6-2 in the Round of 16 at the Mubadala Citi D.C. Open to advance to his second ATP quarterfinal in Washington.
  • Shelton needed just 61 minutes to finish the match after landing 16 aces and winning 28 of 30 first-serve points.
  • The result overturned their only previous meeting when Diallo beat Shelton in 2022 on the Challenger circuit.
  • Both players arrived in Washington off straight-set wins and strong grass-court seasons that included Shelton’s Wimbledon quarterfinal run and Diallo’s Libema Open title.
  • Shelton’s decisive performance underscores his emergence as a leading serve-based contender as the North American hard-court swing builds toward the US Open.