Ben Chilton reached the second round of the Barcelona Open 7-5, 6-4 over Mackenzie McDonald on Monday.
The 20-year-old American converted five of his six break points. Shilton, ranked 37th in the world, is making his debut on the clay court portion of the ATP schedule. Lost in the first round in Monte Carlo and in the second round in Estoril.
Shilton will face third seed Casper Rudd in the next round. Rudd was defeated last year in Cincinnati, when he was still unknown.
“A different surface, a different context,” Shelton said. I don’t think he knew who I was the last time I ran into him and he knows me now. I think he will be better prepared and I can’t wait to play with him.”
In other matches on Monday, Bernabé Zapata Miralles defeated Attila Palaz 6-2, 6-2, setting the stage for an all-Spanish duel against Roberto Batista Agut in the second round. Meanwhile, Emil Rossofori beat Alexandre Bublik 6-0, 6-3 to set up a date with fifth seed Frances Tiafoe.
Among the other players who passed the first round on Monday were the Chilean Nicholas Khari, the Argentine Thomas Martin Echeverri and the Portuguese Nuno Borges.
Borges will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the next round.
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