Mexican Open 2024: Ben Shelton comes from behind to beat Dan Evans in decider, Jack Draper beats Tommy Paul

Ben Shelton recovered from dropping the first set to beat Dan Evans 2-6 7-5 7-6(5) and book his place in the last 16 of the Mexican Open.

In a gruelling encounter that lasted two hours and 45 minutes, Britain’s Evans looked to have struck a decisive blow when he broke to serve for the match at 6-5 in the third before Shelton hit back to force a tie-break, which he won.

“Definitely a really tricky match-up for me,” Shelton said. “Dan is a guy that I know well, we have a lot of banter in the locker room and [he is a] guy whose game presents a lot of challenges.

“So to be able to come out of this first match here in Acapulco with a win after losing the first set is a big accomplishment for me.”

Evans capitalised on the early errors from Shelton to win four games in a row from 2-2 in the opening set to seize the initiative.

But America’s Shelton was much improved in the second, dropping just five points on serve to lead 6-5 before earning a crucial break to level the contest.

There was more drama late in the decider. With Shelton leading 5-4, the 21-year-old earned three match points at 0-40 on the Evans serve but couldn’t convert as the Brit fought back to keep his hopes alive.

Evans then took his chance to break to lead 6-5 and serve for the match before faltering with the winning line in sight.

And after breaking back to force a tie-break, Shelton sent a drive volley into the open court to seal a thrilling victory on his fifth match point before paying tribute to the fans in attendance.

“I’m really glad to come out here and hopefully be a positive light for the people of Acapulco,” Shelton added, in reference to the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis.

“I wasn’t sure how big the crowd was going to be coming out today, but the people really showed out and it just shows the kind of culture they have here in Acapulco, how much they love sport and it just makes it one of the most fun places to play.”

Evans’ compatriot, British No. 3 Jack Draper, comfortably beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-4 to avenge his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open to the American.

Paul was made to pay for his profligacy as he failed to convert three break points on Draper’s serve in the opening game of the match.

The Brit took his chance in the next game before maintaining that momentum and completing a first-set bagel in little over half an hour.

Paul, the seventh seed, offered far more resistance in the second but couldn’t restore parity and take the contest all the way.

The set went with serve for nine games before the opportunistic Draper pounced on his chance to clinch a straight-sets victory on his first match point.

He will now take on Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the last 16.