Nikoloz Basilashvili def. Ben Shelton 6-4, 6(5)-7(7), 6-3 — Italian Open 2026 R64

Match recap

Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated Ben Shelton 6-4, 6(5)-7(7), 6-3 in the R64 of the Italian Open 2026.

Ranked 117th, Nikoloz Basilashvili flipped a 111-spot gap on No. 6 Ben Shelton by neutralizing the one weapon that should have settled it: Shelton's 12 aces to his 2 never translated into holds, as the Georgian broke three times from nine chances while the American converted just 1 of 3. Basilashvili won 18 of 31 games despite trailing on the aggregate winner count, took the second-serve battle 56% to 51%, and closed in three after dropping the tiebreak 7-5. First clay meeting; he leads the head-to-head 1-0.

Match stats

Nikoloz Basilashvili: 2 aces, 27 winners, 59% first serves, 3 double faults, 3/9 break points. Ben Shelton: 12 aces, 29 winners, 63% first serves, 4 double faults, 1/3 break points.

Profiles: Nikoloz Basilashvili · Ben Shelton — Italian Open 2026

Head-to-head

This is the first meeting between Nikoloz Basilashvili and Ben Shelton.