Raphael Collignon defeated world number five Ben Shelton 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 on May 28 at the French Open, securing his first career appearance in the tournament's third round [1, 2]. The 24-year-old Belgian displayed composure and sharp returns to break Shelton's strong serve at key moments in each set during the match, which lasted just over two hours [1, 2].
Collignon said he focused on his return game and maintaining concentration on his own serve as crucial factors in the victory. "I knew I had to try to stay focused on my return, that his real strength was his serve and that I really had to concentrate on my own service game – that was the key. I tried to wait for the opportunities and whenever they came, in the end, I stayed fairly calm because I broke serve at just the right moment every time," he said [1].
This tournament marked Collignon's first time competing in the main draw at Roland Garros and his first time reaching the third round there [1, 2]. He was visibly emotional after the match, reflecting the significance of the win in his young career [1, 2].
Collignon will face Italy's Matteo Arnaldi in the third round as he aims to advance further into the tournament [1, 2].