ATP roundup: Ben Shelton cruises into D.C. quarterfinals

Mubadala Citi D.C. Open – Seeds Steady, Crowd Awaits Prime‑Time Tests

Ben Shelton fired 16 aces and pocketed 93 percent of his first‑serve points to dismiss Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 6‑3, 6‑2 in just 61 minutes, setting the day’s tone. Daniil Medvedev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Brandon Nakashima also advanced in straight sets, while Corentin Moutet remained the lone lucky loser in the draw after easing past Dan Evans. The drama belonged to Alex de Minaur, who squandered two match points in a second‑set tiebreak but still edged Jiří Lehečka 7‑6, 6‑7, 6‑4. Night matches—Frances Tiafoe versus Flavio Cobolli and top seed Taylor Fritz against Matteo Arnaldi—will determine whether home‑court energy continues to carry weight. If Shelton’s serve keeps clicking, live‑bet entry points outlined in 5 Important Tips for Betting on Tennis could come into play quickly.

Generali Open (Kitzbühel) – Bublik’s Draw Opens Up

Top seed Alexander Bublik lost just one point on his first serve and never faced a break while cruising past compatriot Alexander Shevchenko 6‑4, 6‑2. With second seed Sebastian Baez and several other seeds already gone, only sixth‑seeded Arthur Rinderknech—who outlasted qualifier Yannick Hanfmann—joins Bublik as a seeded semifinalist. Countryman Arthur Cazaux moved through the bottom quarter and meets Rinderknech, setting up a potential all‑French semifinal. Altitude and skid‑friendly clay often reward big serves and first‑strike tennis; bankroll sizing guidelines in Bankroll Management 101 should keep the temptation to chase short prices in check.

Plava Laguna Croatia Open (Umag) – Four Remain After Late‑Night Rallies

Luciano Darderi survived a listless opening set against local teenager Dino Prižmić, flipping the match 1‑6, 6‑2, 6‑3 with heavier forehands and timely kick serves. He now draws Camilo Ugo Carabelli, who advanced when Pablo Llamas Ruiz retired late in the second set. In the bottom half, Damir Džumhur ground out a 3‑6, 7‑5, 6‑2 win over qualifier Titouan Droguet, and Spain’s Carlos Taberner added another upset to his week by eliminating Jesper de Jong. Every semifinalist has logged at least one three‑setter already; if fatigue shows, underdog prices could be more live than they look at first glance—a spot where the momentum cues from Line Movement: Read It and Win come in handy.