Ben Shelton’s ATP Finals debut did not go to plan, as he lost his opening match to Alexander Zverev on Sunday.

Shelton was leading 4-0 and 6-3 in the second-set tie-break, but let the advantage slip, handing the match to Zverev.

The 23-year-old has made steady progress in recent months, and qualifying for this event was a real achievement, especially after picking up an injury at the US Open.

Following a challenging draw for the ATP Finals, Shelton’s prospects for advancing were further hampered by his loss to Zverev.

Ben Shelton caught off guard by something Alexander Zverev did

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Laver Cup

Zverev had been dealing with some fitness concerns heading into the match but showed no signs of any issues during his straight-sets victory.

Shelton struggled

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