Two of the ATP Tour’s brightest young stars, Holger Rune and Ben Shelton, suffered shocking exits on Thursday, both falling to Spanish underdogs. While Rune crashed out of the Rotterdam Open against Pedro Martinez, Shelton was stunned by Jaume Munar in Dallas, leaving fans wondering if both rising talents are struggling with consistency.
Rune’s Rotterdam Nightmare: Martinez Stuns the Dane
Heading into his second-round match at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, Holger Rune was expected to set up a highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz. Instead, Pedro Martinez played spoiler, delivering one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
- Rune started flat, getting broken early. While he immediately broke back, Martinez continued to apply pressure.
- At 5-4, Martinez created a set point—and converted it, stealing the first set 6-4.
- In the second set, the Spanish underdog took complete control, racing to a 4-1 lead and breaking Rune two more times to seal an emphatic 6-4, 6-1 victory.
For Rune, this loss raises serious concerns. The young Dane, who had hoped for a deep run in Rotterdam, instead leaves the tournament with more questions than answers about his form.
Meanwhile, Martinez now faces Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling all-Spanish quarterfinal—a major opportunity for the 26-year-old to continue his unexpected run.
Shelton Falls in Dallas: Munar Silences the Home Crowd
While Rune was unraveling in Rotterdam, over in Dallas, Ben Shelton faced his own nightmare against Jaume Munar.
Despite starting the tournament strong with a first-round win over Aleksandar Vukic, Shelton was caught off guard by Munar’s solid baseline play and tactical precision.
- Shelton was broken immediately, failing to generate any break chances of his own as Munar stormed through the first set 6-2.
- The second set was far more competitive, with both players holding serve until 4-4.
- Shelton earned two crucial break points to swing the momentum his way but failed to capitalize, allowing Munar to force a tie-break.
- In the decider, Munar remained steady while Shelton’s errors piled up, sealing the 6-2, 7-6(3) victory.
This wasn’t just a bad loss for Shelton—it was a warning sign. The American No.2, known for his explosive power and fearless play, struggled against a gritty Munar who simply outplayed him in the key moments.
Munar now moves on to face Matteo Arnaldi in the quarterfinals, while Shelton will have to regroup and reassess his game as he prepares for the upcoming Masters 1000 events.
What’s Next? Rune and Shelton Must Find Consistency
For both Holger Rune and Ben Shelton, these losses highlight a glaring issue—consistency.
- Rune has now lost early in multiple tournaments, struggling to string together deep runs since his Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance last year.
- Shelton, despite his breakthrough at the 2023 US Open, remains vulnerable on slower courts and needs to develop more patience in baseline exchanges.
Both players have the talent to be future Grand Slam contenders, but mental sharpness and tactical adjustments will be key if they hope to avoid more shocking upsets like these.
For now, Spain’s Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar walk away as the heroes of the day, proving once again that rankings mean nothing when it comes to pure grit and determination on court.
