Belgian player Raphael Collignon defeated world No. 5 Ben Shelton in straight sets on May 28, 2026, to reach the French Open third round [1, 2, 3].
The victory marks a significant upset in the tournament, as Shelton entered the match as a heavy favorite based on his global ranking [1, 2].
Collignon secured the win in Paris with a score of 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 [1]. Other reports listed the set order as 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 [3]. Regardless of the sequence, the Belgian player dominated the match to eliminate the American standout from the competition [1, 3].
This result is a career milestone for Collignon, who has reached the third round of the French Open for the first time [2]. The match took place at Roland Garros, where the Belgian's performance overcame the power and ranking advantage of the world No. 5 [1, 2].
Shelton, who has been a consistent force in the top 10, struggled to find a way back into the match after Collignon established an early lead [1, 2]. The straight-sets loss is a rare early exit for the American, who was expected to advance deep into the tournament [1, 2].
Collignon now moves forward in the bracket with momentum from one of the biggest wins of his professional career [2]. The tournament continues in Paris as other seeds face potential upsets in the early rounds [1, 2].
“Belgian player Raphael Collignon defeated world No. 5 Ben Shelton in straight sets”
The defeat of a top-five seed in the early rounds of a Grand Slam disrupts the projected tournament bracket and opens a path for lower-ranked players to advance. For Collignon, this victory provides a significant boost in ranking points and professional visibility, while Shelton's exit highlights the volatility of clay-court tennis where ranking dominance does not always guarantee victory.
