Ben Shelton goes the distance in Roland Garros debut to defeat Lorenzo Sonego in five sets

World No. 13 Ben Shelton overcame Italian Lorenzo Sonego in a tough Roland Garros debut, winning 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. The American showed composure and class to come back in a match that had turned extremely complicated, especially on a surface that doesn’t favor his style. He will face the winner of the all-French clash between Hugo Gaston and Ugo Blanchet in the second round.

This was a huge win for Shelton, not only because of the quality of the opponent but also for what it could mean for his future in this 2025 French Open. The American had kicked off his clay-court season strongly, defeating one of the toughest players on the surface—Francisco Cerúndolo—to reach the final in Munich, where he eventually lost to Alexander Zverev. However, after early exits in both Madrid and Rome, he arrived in Paris with a few question marks.

His opponent, Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, was someone he had already faced earlier this year—in the Australian Open quarterfinals, no less. Since his impressive run in Melbourne, Sonego had struggled, suffering several early-round defeats—and Paris would be no exception.

First Set

Both players held serve with authority early on, leaving little room for break opportunities. Most games were one-sided until the tenth game, when the world No. 13 stepped up the pressure and broke Sonego at love to take the set 6-4.

Second Set

Shelton’s joy didn’t last long. In just three games, Sonego broke serve and took control. Both players continued to struggle with consistency on serve, but it was the Italian who held firmer. The American lefty was broken again in a marathon game that included six deuces, a pivotal moment that tipped the balance of the set. Sonego remained steady and closed it out 6-4.

Third Set

Riding high on confidence, Sonego kept up his intensity from the second set. Although Shelton raised his level, the Italian picked his spots perfectly, securing breaks in the seventh and ninth games to wrap up the set 6-3.

Fourth Set

With his back against the wall, the American produced his best tennis. Despite not being able to rely on his usual weapon—his powerful serve—Shelton counterattacked brilliantly. He broke Sonego twice early on to take a 5-1 lead and eventually forced a deciding set with a dominant 6-2.

Fifth Set

Improving the accuracy of his first serve, Shelton kept up the pressure and quickly took control of the points. From the third set onward, the world No. 13 had locked in and never dropped serve again—something Sonego couldn’t match. A break in the fifth game gave Shelton the breathing room he needed. With his confidence growing, he focused on maintaining his lead and eventually sealed the match with another break, closing it out 6-3.

Another display of Ben Shelton’s guts and ability to raise his game when it matters most. The young American continues to shine at the Grand Slam level. It wasn’t an easy start, but he can now look ahead to the second round with a smile.

Match Statistics Shelton vs. Sonego