LAVER CUP 2023: Shelton Shines as Team World Soars at Rogers Arena

Young tennis talents Arthur Fils and Ben Shelton faced off on Day 1 of the 2023 Laver Cup at Rogers Arena.

[{"selector":"#anim-3bb89934-4c6f-4d6d-8534-c0bbde72ef65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da08ce07-1dfe-4b89-b8c8-a1e2e6b77a23","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-102.01005%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This match, held on a converted ice rink, the Vancouver Canucks' NHL home, featured intense groundstrokes, lasting 1 hour, 18 minutes.

[{"selector":"#anim-60996f5c-537c-4853-bc34-6a8bf43a32d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c775b051-e555-48b6-92b0-469394e411b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Shelton triumphed 7-6(4), 6-1 against Fils with Federer watching, giving Team World a 1-0 advantage.

[{"selector":"#anim-38b113d0-c680-4aea-9597-2cb7fa2f7d0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6af5eeb-efb7-4363-bb1e-e802bb5142dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

For the first time in the competition's six-year history, Team World secured the opening point.

[{"selector":"#anim-822e4b5e-18a6-403c-9f3a-99cbcde848ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-904daffc-1f4b-4dcf-bc6d-8619d7820b17","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

" The crowd really got me going," said Shelton, coached by his father, former ATP pro Bryan Shelton, aiming to set Team World's tone.

[{"selector":"#anim-def8f43f-21db-41df-8d16-da1738f998e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52bf1f9f-9076-4225-9238-c9bae9257a77","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Patrick McEnroe, Team World Vice-Captain, praised Shelton's performance in the electric environment, highlighting his energy and team spirit.

[{"selector":"#anim-e562a0e3-e4ad-4583-b4fa-a28d25677387","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7c36804-5009-43df-ba9b-c83864bccb6e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

No points surrendered on serve in first four games. Shelton recovered from 1-4 down, winning six straight tiebreak points.

[{"selector":"#anim-875bd568-4503-4b46-8e36-74076d0612f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7293753c-cb62-4ddd-94cf-ec4eee978484","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

“He always responded with aces,” said Fils.

[{"selector":"#anim-a9c62bcb-d84d-4e33-a05d-8e5f5f009fe0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2af25dd-1ba5-4653-a82a-dc56d214c04f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Shelton didn't feel in top form during practice, but a hitting session with teammate Tommy Paul changed everything.

[{"selector":"#anim-5b44a1cb-d335-4f40-9edd-380adde372b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72c79a48-c243-49fd-a7e3-e6f15f9d2af3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]