Italian Internationals in Rome
9 May 2024
1.13pm
Bublik and Shelton played doubles at the Internazionali d’Italia, beating Tiafoe and Auger-Aliassime. The strange couple put on a show.
After the rain, the sun and the spectacle returned to Rome for the Italian Internationals, and not just on the central court. In fact, the doubles tournament has also started, and on the court there are many of the singles stars ready to train in this specialty. Among these also Bublik and Shelton who put on a show, facing two top players against Auger-Aliassime and Tiafoe.
Crowded stands for the match, considering the presence of the protagonists. Bublik in particular is a player who always puts on a show, and even today he did not disappoint expectations. In fact, the jokes from below could not be missing for the Kazakh tennis player, who received ovations from the public on several occasions. Unfortunately, however, the point went to their opponents who were not surprised.
Even his partner Shelton actually wasn’t far behind. The American player was the protagonist of one of the best shots of the day at the Internazionali in Rome. A close range smash from Auger-Aliassime surprised his American opponent, catching him off guard. At that point Ben invented a very strange trick, carrying the racket behind his back, jumping and hitting the ball with pure instinct without looking at it. Among other things with an almost unnatural rotation of the arm.
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Surprised reaction from the fans, even if the point went to the opponents who finished easily. Shelton consoled himself however with the applause of the audience and his partner, who also picked up his racket. A play that was celebrated in this way on the official ATP profile: “Internet, stop what you’re doing and find a name for this blow.”
The match was exciting and hard-fought, as confirmed by the 6 match points canceled out by Auger Aliassime and Tiafoe in the second set, won by the Canadian-American pair. In the end, however, it came to pass only a scare for Bublik and Shelton who took places in the decisive tie-break, amidst the applause of those present. The latter are now certain of witnessing at least another spectacular match, with the two on the pitch.
