Frances Tiafoe faced a tough challenge from Ben Shelton in a five-set showdown at the US Open, ultimately emerging victorious with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3. This win advances Tiafoe to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the fifth year in a row.
Last year, Tiafoe lost to Shelton in the quarterfinals in four sets. The previous year, he made headlines by defeating Rafael Nadal and reaching the semifinals, marking his best performance in a Grand Slam event.
Despite having a less-than-stellar record in five-set matches prior to this event, Tiafoe showcased his skills against Shelton for a match that lasted 4 hours and 3 minutes. After the victory, he celebrated by acknowledging the cheering crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium and sharing a moment of camaraderie with Shelton at the net.
In a post-match interview, Tiafoe praised Shelton’s abilities, saying, “He’s an incredible player. He really is. He goes for all kind of shots. It’s really annoying… It’s highlight after highlight. I hope you guys enjoyed the show.”
Shelton reciprocated the praise, stating, “I thought he played lights-out today… you’ve got to be happy for a guy and congratulate him—especially a guy like him when he’s playing the way he’s playing.”
Tiafoe is set to face Alexei Popyrin, the No. 28 seed, who pulled off an upset by defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
Although the match was initially scheduled for a night slot, it took place in the afternoon, leading to a less populated audience as people had left after the previous match involving Coco Gauff. Tiafoe expressed indifference about the timing, focusing solely on winning.
Both Tiafoe and Shelton are part of a new generation of American tennis players ranked in the top 20. Tiafoe is currently ranked 20th, while Shelton is ranked 13th. The last American male to win a Grand Slam was Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open, igniting hopes for a potential end to the long drought.
Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American man at No. 12, advanced by defeating Francisco Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and will face Casper Ruud in the next round. Fritz has now reached the round of 16 in all four Grand Slam events this year, a feat not accomplished by an American man since Andre Agassi in 2003.
Another American, Brandon Nakashima, ranked No. 50, also progressed by eliminating Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti.
Overall, Tiafoe’s journey to the fourth round is noteworthy as he becomes the first American man to reach this stage for five consecutive years since Agassi from 2001 to 2005. Tiafoe demonstrated impressive resilience throughout the match and improved his performance in crucial moments, continuing to build momentum after hiring a new coach earlier in the season.