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Grigor Dimitrov continued his impressive record at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Tuesday when he overcame #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the second round for the 11th time.
The Bulgarian is a two-time semi-finalist in the Principality and has now earned 21 match wins at the event, his most at any ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
In the first meeting between the pair, Dimitrov stood close to the baseline to hammer the ball off both wings. The former World No. 3 struck 39 winners and hit an array of angles to force debutant Shelton wide, advancing after two hours and 12 minutes.
The 31-year-old Dimitrov will next meet Jiri Lehecka after the Czech overcame Finn lucky loser Emil Ruusuvuori 6-1, 7-5 to level their ATP Head2Head series at 2-2. Lehecka’s win was his first at a clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event.
The 20-year-old Shelton, currently at No. 39 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, was making his debut in Monte-Carlo. He earned his maiden clay-court victory in Estoril last week when he defeated Constant Lestienne.
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