I’ve Never Felt This Close to Alcaraz’s Level," Shelton Reflects on His Roland-Garros Defeat
Defeated by Alcaraz in the Roland-Garros round of 16, Shelton proved he could hold his own against the world No. 2. In the post-match press conference, the American reflected on his performance:
"I’ve never felt this close to Alcaraz’s level until now. This was the match where I felt most comfortable in baseline rallies. There are a lot of positives to take from this experience because I’m improving. I feel like I’m close to genuinely being able to start winning matches like this. I hope to keep improving and take the next step. I really enjoyed this battle. There were some tough and fantastic rallies. These are the kinds of matches a tennis player lives for."
The world No. 13 also expressed his regret about the first set, which he lost in a tie-break (8-10):
"I’m disappointed with how I handled the end of the first set. When I win the first set in a Grand Slam, I feel like a runaway train, and it becomes tough for my opponents. The last time I faced a defending champion at a major, Sinner in Australia, I had similar opportunities in the first set. It’s frustrating to lose the same way, but overall, I’m happy with how my clay-court game is progressing.
French Open 
