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Shelton Fires 44 Aces, Survives Kovacevic in Basel

The world No.4 says that subtle alterations to his already ballistic serve helped him serve light-out in Basel on Tuesday.

Published: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at 8:34 PM
Shelton Fires 44 Aces, Survives Kovacevic in Basel
Key Things to Know
  • Ben Shelton hit 44 aces to edge Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in Basel.
  • The thrilling contest concluded without a single service break by either player.
  • Shelton's 44 aces finished just three shy of the all-time record for a three-set match.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Top seed Ben Shelton hit 44 aces to defeat fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(4) in the opening round in Basel on Tuesday. The match featured zero breaks of serve and brought Shelton within three aces of the all-time record for a three-set match. Shelton saved two critical break points at 5-5 in the final set before sealing the victory in the deciding tiebreak.

Following the win, the world No. 4 credited subtle technical adjustments aimed at improving serve accuracy and precision over pure power. Shelton improved his season record to 41-17 as he builds momentum for the ATP Finals in Turin. He will next play Swiss wild card Jerome Kym in the second round.

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