Shelton keeps American hopes alive into 4th round

A time aft wrapping up his second-round Wimbledon lucifer in each of astir a minute, American Ben Shelton was astir arsenic businesslike Saturday against Marton Fucsovics, winning successful consecutive sets to scope the circular of 16 astatine the All England Club for a 2nd consecutive year.

At property 22, Shelton, who made the semifinals of the Australian Open and 4th circular astatine Roland Garros, is the youngest American antheral to marque 3 large round-of-16 appearances successful 1 twelvemonth since Andy Roddick did truthful successful 2004, conscionable aft his 22nd birthday.

Shelton besides became the 4th American antheral successful the past 20 years to triumph his archetypal 3 Wimbledon matches successful consecutive sets, pursuing Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz successful 2022, and Roddick successful 2007.

Shelton, who conscionable precocious cracked the ATP's apical 10, and Fritz are the lone American men remaining successful the draw. They are connected other sides, with the fifth-seeded Fritz acceptable to look Australia's Jordan Thompson connected Sunday for a spot successful the 4th round.

"I had a batch of fun," Shelton said of the 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win, which helium closed retired successful 2 hours. "It's ever peculiar playing present astatine Wimbledon ... Court 1 is simply a peculiar court."

He past added, "I'm trying to marque my mode to Centre Court -- possibly I'll get determination 1 day."

Through 3 matches astatine the All England Club, Shelton has played 6 hours and 41 minutes. His hostile successful the adjacent round, Italy's Lorenzo Sonego, played 5 hours and 4 minutes on Saturday alone, and has spent 9 hours and 49 minutes connected tribunal for the tournament.

Shelton and Sonego past played astatine the French Open, with the American winning successful 5 sets.

ESPN Research contributed to this report.