Third seed Shelton gone in Brisbane upset

Murray Wenzel | January 1, 2024

Ben Shelton’s Australian Open preparation has taken an unexpected early hit after the exciting American was upset in the first round of the Brisbane International.

The world No.17, who reached last year’s Australian Open quarter-finals and US Open semis, was outplayed 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 by Russian Roman Safiullin under the Pat Rafter Arena roof on a wet Monday afternoon.

Left-hander Shelton, the 21-year-old third seed, was unable to break the world No.39’s serve and found himself constantly under pressure despite his big weapons.

Safiullin, boasting a Wimbledon quarter-final appearance last July and a win over Carlos Alcaraz in October, chipped away until it eventually told on Sheldon. 

The favourite grew increasingly frustrated before double-faulting to hand the Russian the decisive break in the third set.

Safiullin then steadied to serve out the match from 0-30.

He’ll play Australian world No.40 Alexei Popyrin, who beat Chris O’Connell on Sunday, in the second round.

“The main goal was to try to return his serve and get as much as I could in the point and see what I could do,” Safiullin said.

“We (Popyrin) played a couple of times … it’s going to be tough, but I’ll be prepared for this.”

No matches have been completed on outside courts on Monday as storms continue to pound Brisbane.

Australian world No.45 Max Purcell will have a chance to join Popyrin in the next round when he faces top seeded Dane and world No.8 Holger Rune on Monday afternoon on centre court.