Ben Shelton’s booming left-handed serve has become his signature weapon on tour. But at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, that same thunderous delivery nearly became a weapon in the literal sense.
During his third-round victory, Shelton’s serve ricocheted off the court and struck a spectator in the front row, creating a moment that left both player and fan shaken.
Scare in the Crowd Doesn’t Derail Ben Shelton’s Winning Streak
The incident unfolded while the fourth-seeded American was cruising through his third-round matchup against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo. Shelton had already dispatched fellow American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, in the previous round and was dominating Diallo with another commanding 6-3, 6-2 performance to reach his second consecutive quarterfinal in Washington.
Ben Shelton into the Quaterfinal in Washington D.C 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CNembpdIb0
— Justin (@Justinooo__o) July 24, 2025
The 22-year-old was serving down the T when he unleashed one of his trademark high-velocity deliveries. The serve carried such pace and curve that chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote had just issued a warning to the front-row spectators to stay alert.
However, even with that precaution, what happened next caught everyone off guard.
Seconds after the umpire’s warning, the ball bounced off the court and brushed the leg of a woman sitting near the baseline. The contact was minimal, but the combination of surprise and velocity visibly startled her, drawing gasps from the surrounding crowd. Shelton immediately showed concern, looking over to check on the spectator and offering an apology.
Following the match, Shelton took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the close call. He posted a clip of the serve on his Instagram Story, reflecting on the incident with a mix of relief and amazement: “Scary that almost nailed someone… nastiest serve I hit fr.”
The power behind Shelton’s serve is well-documented. Earlier in 2025 at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, he recorded his fastest serve of the year, clocking 150.0 mph (241.4 km/h) during his second-round match against Argentine Mariano Navone.
That velocity, combined with his lefty spin, makes his delivery one of the most dangerous weapons on tour.
Despite the brief scare, Shelton’s focus now shifts to his upcoming quarterfinal showdown with No. 6 seed Frances Tiafoe. This marks familiar territory for Shelton, who reached the semifinals at the 2024 edition of the Citi DC Open.
The two Americans have history both as opponents and partners, having teamed up for doubles earlier in the week before falling to Australian duo John Peers and Matthew Ebden in the first round.
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The head-to-head between Shelton and Tiafoe will be their fourth career meeting, with Shelton holding a 2-1 advantage.
The winner of their highly anticipated matchup will advance to face either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semifinals, keeping alive hopes for an American presence in the tournament’s final stages.