The brutal Melbourne heat continued to shape the narrative of the 2026 Australian Open, testing both physical endurance and mental resilience. On Day 7, players battled scorching temperatures, roof closures, and relentless opponents, with Ben Shelton emerging as one of the standout performers. What was his secret to success in an incredible win in the third round of the AO on a hot and humid day?

The American booked his spot in the R16 after defeating Valentin Vacherot in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5). Shelton is yet to drop a set in this tournament. In this match, he showcased composure under pressure, staying clutch in key moments and building momentum ahead of a looming clash with Marin Cilic or Casper Ruud in the next round. But in his post-match press conference, the American was asked if he had tweaked anything, knowing he’ll be playing in the day session under these extreme conditions. Replying to that, Shelton said, “I mean, I think that you definitely want to be light with what you eat and drink a lot, and that’s kind of what I did last night. Anticipating, possibly playing outside in 100-degree heat.”

He also added, “It’s something that I’m used to, but it’s not comfortable for anybody. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling playing out there in those temperatures. And like you said, I ended up playing indoors, but there are a lot of things you have to factor in. For me, usually I’d probably go up a few pounds in tension. I didn’t today…”

Ben Shelton highlighted the unpredictability of tournament conditions, noting the contrast between indoor play and outdoor heat. “I think that you’ve got to be prepared for everything because you’re either playing in, you know, 70-degree room temperature, perfect serving conditions, or you’re trying to stay out of the sun and stay alive out there.”

Extreme heat has been the hot topic at the 2026 AO. This has forced organizers into repeated schedule changes and sparked fresh concerns from players. After previously announcing an earlier 10:30 am start for Saturday’s day session and shifting more matches to roofed courts like Margaret Court Arena, tournament officials still had to eventually suspend all play on outside courts as temperatures soared.

On Saturday, play was even briefly halted when the mercury hit 36 degrees Celsius, triggering roof closures on the main showcourts. Players like Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti had to wait a bit during their third-round match due to this. On the other side, Ben Shelton’s compatriot, Madison Keys, expressed relief at escaping the worst of the heat, saying she was “super happy” to play before conditions became extreme following her 6-3, 6-3 win over Karolina Pliskova.

As per the forecast, there’s a high chance of temperatures going over 40 degrees Celsius again during the QF. So, there still remains a concern. But as the tournament progresses and temperatures continue to soar, Shelton’s resilience and adaptability could prove to be key assets in his quest for a deep Australian Open.

Ben Shelton draws an interesting comparison of his performances at Grand Slams

Ben Shelton is quickly shaping into one of the most dangerous contenders at the 2026 AO, and his latest performance only strengthens that narrative. It took him 2 hours and 17 minutes to take down Valentin Vacherot in this third-round duel. The American fired 15 aces and made the difference behind the second serve. They both landed more winners than unforced errors, with Shelton standing on a 48-27 ratio and Vacherot adding 32 direct points and 23 mistakes.

After cruising past Vacherot in straight sets, Shelton’s confidence, shot-making, and evolving all-court game are turning heads in Melbourne. Interestingly, this surge was foreshadowed last year by former British no.1 Greg Rusedski. who labeled Shelton a potential threat at the Slam, “The wildcard I like is Ben Shelton. What has he done in the offseason? Has he improved that backhand? Has he improved his court positioning? His dad (Bryan Shelton) won two ATP Tour titles. He has a lot of knowledge.”

Rusedski further added, “Can he correct those little holes in his game because he has a lot of tools. He has broken into the top eight this year.” Ben Shelton’s win against Valentin Vacherot marked his third R16 appearanced at Melbourne Park. Yet, despite being a 2025 AO semifinalist, Shelton insists this might not even be the peak version of himself at a majo.

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“The best that I’ve played at a Slam was up until I got injured at the US Open last summer. I think that this is probably second, but to be in the form that I’m in as early as it is in the year is really encouraging …” He sees encourgaing signs, particularly in his improved serve, flatter forehand, and greater variation on his backhand with slice, topspin, and flatter drives.

Clearly there is an improvement in certain aspects of Ben Shelton’s game. He has looked lethal in Melbourne so far. But can the world number 7, find success in Melbourne this year or will it be yet again a narrow miss?