Ben Shelton moves on for ninth straight Canada Masters win as Learner Tien prevails

[p]World number 10 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shelton-ben/QNuG0Gzb/"]Shelton[/a] has not dropped a set in reaching the last eight.[/p][p]The 23-year-old American left-hander will play for a semi-final berth against 13th-seeded Czech [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a], who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-de-zandschulp-botic/YwiLpILD/"]Botic Van De Zandschulp[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/van-de-zandschulp-b-YwiLpILD/?mid=MuRyYFe2"]6-4, 7-5[/a], claiming victory on a winning lob.[/p][p]Van De Zandschulp served for the second set but was broken, with Mensik seizing the momentum as he won 12 of the final 14 points.[/p][p]Brazilian teenager [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Fonseca[/a], billed as one of the faces for the future of the sport, might have compromised his own chances when he landed badly on his ankle after missing a smash while leading 3-1, 40-30 in the second set.[/p][p]The youngster was plagued by 32 unforced errors as his opponent mastered an annoying evening wind to earn the victory.[/p][p]"[b]It was tough today, not easy conditions,[/b]" Shelton said. "[b]With the wind I struggled to find footing on a lot of balls.[/b][/p][p]"[b]It all came down to grit. The tennis was not clean. Beating a high-quality player like that is huge for me.[/b]"[/p][p]Shelton [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/fonseca-j-tv073LUc/shelton-b-QNuG0Gzb/?mid=KWAEU167"]secured his ninth straight victory[/a] in Canada on the second of four match points as Fonseca hit the net with a return after leading in both sets.[/p][embed guid="ef8fcbe9-a6c5-4e2f-8bca-b24c27148462" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2086605354729668877?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniel-merida-aguilar/WOtXbAu5/"]Daniel Merida[/a] smothered [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griekspoor-tallon/f3zfMU5i/"]Tallon Griekspoor[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/daniel-m-a-WOtXbAu5/griekspoor-t-f3zfMU5i/?mid=xvQoKPBi"]6-3, 6-1[/a] as the Spaniard continued his rapid adjustment to hardcourt tennis in Canada.[/p][p]The world number 63 joins compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] in the Canada quarter-finals and will break through to a career-best spot inside the top 50 as a result of his fourth-round victory.[/p][p]Prior to making his Montreal debut, clay-courter Merida had never won a tour-level match on hardcourt.[/p][p]He will try to extend his streak of cement success to five in a row when he plays a first Masters quarter-final against US 12th seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tien-learner/xUHOBJK6/"]Learner Tien[/a], who wore down Argentine [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tirante-thiago-agustin/jBkGDj34/"]Thiago Tirante[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/tien-l-xUHOBJK6/tirante-t-a-jBkGDj34/?mid=tt8DnzSh"]6-4, 6-4[/a].[/p][p]Tien saved the first eight break points he faced in the second set in a battle of big hitters and secured victory in his fifth match point, with his opponent handing over the final game with four unforced errors.[/p][p]"[b]Today was humid, conditions are always tough,[/b]" Tien said. "[b]I'm happy with how the match worked out.[/b][/p][p]"[b]This was one of those days where I was making good contact with the ball. I was seeing the ball well and returning well.[/b]"[/p][p]The 20-year-old added: "[b]All the younger guys are playing with a lot of confidence. We're playing free against the older guys.[/b][/p][p]"[b]It's great for the sport. The younger guys are also pushing each other.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="e902c371-fc94-4864-960d-67d0774ebaae" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2086511760605868504?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Against Griekspoor, Merida was deadly with his backhand, leaving the Dutchman flat-footed in the 69-minute triumph.[/p][p]Spain's title-winner last month on clay in Umag has now claimed 16 victories this breakthrough season.[/p][p]"[b]This is a dream come true. I'm feeling really great,[/b]" Merida said. "[b]I'm happy with the level during all the week.[/b][/p][p]"[b]I was playing great for the last year and the beginning of this year so I just starting to believe more in myself.[/b]"[/p]