Ben Shelton Battles Past Close Friend Nava in Munich as Alcaraz Reflects on Sinner Rivalry in Barcelona Build-Up

Posted : 14 April 2026

Ben Shelton began his Munich Open campaign with a hard-fought victory over fellow American Emilio Nava, overcoming a challenging three-set battle 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3 in the opening round. The world No. 6 had to recover from a break down in the deciding set before eventually sealing the win, continuing his strong form on clay this season. The result extends Shelton’s perfect record in ATP 500 events this year, underlining his growing consistency at the top level.

Despite the competitive nature of the match, Shelton admitted the encounter carried emotional weight as he faced a close friend and compatriot. He praised Nava’s recent rise in form and expressed sympathy over his physical condition during the match, noting that he hopes his opponent returns to full fitness soon. Shelton’s next opponent will come from the clash between Alexander Blockx and Yannick Hanfmann, as he continues his push for a maiden clay-court title.

Elsewhere in Munich, top seed Alexander Zverev continues his campaign after finishing runner-up last year, while players such as Francisco Cerúndolo and Arthur Rinderknech also progressed with straight-set victories, highlighting a competitive field on the Bavarian clay.

Meanwhile in Barcelona, Carlos Alcaraz spoke about his growing rivalry with newly crowned world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, describing it as a motivating force in his career. After losing to Sinner in the Monte Carlo Masters final, Alcaraz acknowledged the Italian’s rise to the top of the rankings while emphasizing how their rivalry pushes him to improve.

The Spanish star highlighted the respect between the two, noting that while their relationship remains professional rather than close off the court, it is built on mutual admiration. Alcaraz also admitted that Sinner’s rapid progress has forced him to stay focused on refining his own game, particularly as both players continue to dominate across all surfaces.

As Alcaraz prepares for the Barcelona Open—where he has previously lifted the trophy twice—he remains focused on regaining top form, starting his campaign against Finland’s Otto Virtanen in the round of 32.

Ben Shelton Battles Past Close Friend Nava in Munich as Alcaraz Reflects on Sinner Rivalry in Barcelona Build-Up

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