Ben Shelton wins another 5-setter to match Dad at Wimbledon: 'We're back, Big Dog!'

LONDON (AP) — When Ben Shelton was growing up, he didn't necessarily want to hear a lot about his father's professional tennis career. And, actually, Dad didn't necessarily want to chat much about it.

Ben, though, knows what Bryan did all of those decades ago — and now they share something in common: a trip to the fourth round at Wimbledon.

The younger Shelton made it that far at the All England Club for the first time in only his second appearance, getting past another big-serving left-hander who has been a Grand Slam semifinalist, Denis Shapovalov, by a score of 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday. The elder Shelton was among the last 16 men in the Wimbledon bracket in 1994.

Ben's tennis coach at the University of Florida was Bryan, who left that job a little more than a year ago to work with his kid. So Bryan was sitting in the stands at No. 1 Court, offering tips and encouragement.

When the match ended, Ben shouted over, “We're back, Big Dog!”

“He’s not really a guy who likes to talk about himself. So he didn’t really volunteer that information (about his career) when I was younger. And I was playing other sports and could care less about tennis and his playing days when I was younger. That’s not something we really talked about,” said Ben, a semifinalist at last year's U.S. Open. “But within the last couple of years, when I came out here on tour, it’s more like advice, given the experience that he had, rather than him just story-telling.”

Smacking serves at up to 140 mph (225 kph), tied for the fastest by anyone in the tournament so far, he pulled out his third consecutive five-setter. The 14th-seeded Shelton is the first man to do that at Wimbledon since Ernests Gulbis; no one ever has won four matches in a row in five sets at any major event in the Open era, which began in 1968.

“So proud of what Ben is doing here at this very special place. Advancing to the 4th round 30 years ago was my greatest accomplishment, so not surprised Ben has already matched that. He is in a hurry to surpass me in all areas,” Bryan wrote in a text message to the AP. “Seriously, the way he is battling through these 5-setters is really the part we admire most. To see him smiling on court and having fun on this stage is what you hope for. Love to see him express his talents and his personality.”

Shelton, 21, insisted he's not tired heading into what amounts to a tough task on Sunday, when he faces No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Sinner won his third-rounder Friday night; Shelton and Shapovalov only completed five games that day before rain led to a suspension of play and a resumption Saturday.

“I didn’t see much fatigue on his end. He looked good,” said Shapovalov, who reached the final four at Wimbledon in 2021.

There already have been 33 five-setters at Wimbledon, a record through three rounds at a major tournament.

Shapovalov chalked that up to there being talent spread around the tour and few grass-court experts. Shelton said he loves that matches can go that long.

“There’s a lot of things I appreciate about five sets. The amount of time you are out there on the court, it’s a physical test. You have to be ready to go the distance and you have to be fit and in shape,” he said. “There’s also a lot of time for guys to make adjustments, so you can’t just really blow a guy off the court in one way. Most of the time you have to be able to figure things out and make your own adjustments when the guy makes changes and starts figuring it out.”

There will be those sorts of challenges against Sinner.

But Shelton, with an ability to deliver various types of serves, including a hard-to-handle kick version, presents difficulties, too.

“I'm happy with where I've gotten so far,” he said, “but definitely not satisfied.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Denis Shapovalov of Canada plays a forehand return to Ben Shelton United States during their third round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Bryan Shelton, left, father Ben Shelton of the United States leaves the stands following his son's third round match against Denis Shapovalov of Canada at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Roger Federer, right, sits with his parents , Robert and Lynette as they watch a third round match between Denis Shapovalov of Canada and Ben Shelton of the United States at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ben Shelton of the United States plays a backhand return to Denis Shapovalov of Canada during their third round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Ben Shelton of the United States reacts after winning a point against Denis Shapovalov of Canada during their third round match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

An Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in the Gaza Strip, killing two children aged 7 and 9 and their parents, Palestinian officials said Monday.

A third child, 10 years old, was wounded in the strike overnight in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government.

An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the nearby Nasser Hospital. The two children were beheaded by the blast and their remains were placed in one body bag.

The Israeli military blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing militants of hiding among civilians and fighting from residential areas. It rarely comments on individual strikes, which often kill women and children.

The war began when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,800 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. They do not distinguish between militants and civilians but say most of those killed are women and children. The fighting has left some 76 people dead in Israel, including 31 soldiers.

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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in the Gaza Strip, killing two children aged 7 and 9 and their parents, Palestinian officials said. A third child, 10 years old, was wounded.

The Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government, said Monday that the overnight strike occurred in the southern city of Khan Younis.

An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the nearby Nasser Hospital. The two children were beheaded by the blast and their remains were placed in one body bag.

The Israeli military blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing militants of hiding among civilians and fighting from residential areas. It rarely comments on individual strikes, which often kill women and children.

The war began when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,800 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. They do not distinguish between militants and civilians but say most of those killed are women and children.

For more Middle East news: https://apnews.com/hub/middle-east

A Lebanese policeman walks in front of destroyed shops that were hit Sunday evening by an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman uses her phone to record destroyed shops that were hit Sunday evening by an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman weeps as she passes in front of destroyed shops that were hit Sunday evening in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A man removes debris from his damaged car at the site where an Israeli airstrike on Sunday evening hit in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

People gather in front of destroyed shops that were hit Sunday evening in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A man watches the damage at the site where an Israeli airstrike Sunday evening hit in central Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)