WATCH: Alexander Bublik's failed attempt to save point against Ben Shelton & duo hugging each other in joy afterwards at Canadian Open goes viral
Alexander Bublik's unique attempt to save a point against Ben Shelton has gone viral. The incident occurred during the second set of their first-round clash at the 2024 Canadian Open, leaving both players laughing.
The first set displayed an intense competition between the two, with Shelton eventually winning 7-6(4). The 21-year-old looked strong in the second set, winning 6-2 and reached the second round of the Masters 1000 event.
While leading 5-2 with three match points, Shelton delivered a backhand slice that seemed out of his opponent's reach. Despite this, Bublik sprinted to the net and threw his racquet at the ball, sending it back to Shelton's side.
As a result, Shelton failed to return the shot, however, the shot was ruled invalid because the Kazakh had dropped his racquet. The incident left both players laughing and they exchanged a warm hug at the net.
Tennis TV shared the clip of the incident on X. A fan later reposted it, with the video surpassing 25 million views.
"I think I’m moving the right way" - Ben Shelton on his improving game
After his victory over Alexander Bublik, Ben Shelton acknowledged that he was steadily getting more consistent in his game. The 21-year-old added that he was progressing in the right direction to find his identity on the court.
“I think the consistency in my tennis is improving every week. I’m feeling more and more comfortable. I’m starting to feel more comfortable on the court against guys that I’ve had a lot of trouble with before. I think that my game is evolving every day. Surely not the player that I want to be in the future, but I think I’m moving the right way with a lot of things and finding identity on court,” Ben Shelton told the press ( via ATP Tour).
Shelton's campaign at the Canadian Open ended when he lost to World No. 62 Alexei Popyrin, 4-6, 6-7(4) in the second round. With this, the Aussie evened the head-to-head record at 1-1 against the World No. 14.
Shelton also paired with Alexander Bublik in the doubles competition of the Masters 1000 event. However, they lost to the duo of Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner 6-7(2), 1-6 in the second round. The 21-year-old now shifts his focus to the 2024 Cincinnati Open starting on August 12.