“It was so special to play out here tonight. They do it so well here at this tournament. A lot of people here know me from playing as a junior here, so nice to be able to put a performance on in front of them all. And it keeps my chances alive.”
Both Fils and Shelton were pleased with their performances.
“I was playing pretty good and I was feeling great on the court,” said Fils. “The crowd helped me a little bit in the first set because it was a little tough, but from then I was feeling pretty good and I am happy with the win.”
Fils knows tomorrow will be a more difficult assignment against German Daniel Altmaier, who upset fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 7-6 7-5 today.
“I lost to Altmaier last time so tomorrow will be a tough match but I will try my best to win. Let’s see tomorrow.”
Shelton will take on Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena in his quarterfinal, after he disposed of Austria’s Sebastian Ofner 7-5 6-3, while Norrie will meet Chilean qualifier Alejandro Tabilo.
The remaining quarterfinal will see another qualifier, Alexandre Muller (FRA) play Japan’s Taro Daniel.
The doubles competition continued with the most interest in New Zealand’s Michael Venus, who has a career-high sixth in the world rankings and began his campaign with regular partner Jamie Murray.
However their late-night clash went the way of the super-talented Belgian pair of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen who won 10-4 in the super-tiebreak.
Results:
Singles: Alexandre Muller (FRA) bt Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 6-1 6-1, Daniel Altmaier (GER) bt Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 7-6 7-5, Ben Shelton (USA) bt Fabian Marozsan (HUN) 6-3 6-4, Arthur Fils(FRA) bt Nuno Borges (POR) 6-2 6-0, Taro Daniel (JPN) bt Max Purcell (AUS) 6-2 6-4, Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) bt Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 7-5 6-3, Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) bt Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) 7-5 6-3, Cameron Norrie (GBR) bt Luca van Assche (FRA) 6-3 6-7 6-1.
Doubles: Nathaniel Lammons (USA) and Jackson Withrow (USA) bt Yuki Bhambri (IND) and Robin Haase (NED) 6-7 7-6 10-7; Julian Cash (GBR) and Robert Galloway (USA) bt Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) and Mate Pavic (CRO) 4-6 6-7 11-9, Marcel Granollers (ESP) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG) bt Romain Arneodo (ARG) and Sam Weissborn (AUT) 6-3 7-6, Sander Gille (BEL) and Joran Vliegen (BEL) bt Jamie Murray (GBR) and Michael Venus (NZL) 7-6 4-6 10-4.
ASB Classic matches today
CENTRE COURT start noon: [Q] Alexandre Muller (FRA) vs Taro Daniel (JPN)[1] Ben Shelton (USA) vs Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)[Q] Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) vs [2] Cam Norrie (GBR)
Not Before 6:30pm: [6] Arthur Fils (FRA) vs Daniel Altmaier (GER)Sadio Doumbia (FRA) / Fabien Reboul (FRA) vs Sander Gille (BEL) / Joran Vliegen (BEL) or [3] Jamie. Murray (GBR) / Michael Venus (NZL)
GRANDSTAND start 1:00pm: Wesley Koolhof (NED) / Nikola Mektic (CRO) vs [2] Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Andres Molteni (ARG)[4] Nathaniel Lammons (USA) / Jackson Withrow (USA) vs Julian Cash (GBR) / Robert Galloway (USA)
