NEW YORK — It was just a few moments after his dominant second-round win that Ben Shelton was requested about his subsequent opponent.
Coated in sweat and with a drenched towel draped over his shoulder on the blistering sizzling Wednesday afternoon, Shelton claimed he did not know he could be going through Frances Tiafoe within the third spherical of the US Open. Shelton mentioned he does not take a look at the draw upfront, but it surely did not take him lengthy to heat as much as the concept.
“You guys made this draw thrilling early within the week, huh?,” he mentioned with a smile to the delighted crowd on Grandstand. “I am actually trying ahead to it. We had a battle within the quarters right here final yr. I am positive it will be one other popcorn-type match.”
On Friday, in entrance of a packed and certain raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 2 Individuals will play with a spot within the fourth spherical on the road. It guarantees to be probably the most fascinating tickets of the 2024 US Open and there’s already a palpable buzz across the grounds. However whereas solely one of many two can advance to the second week, their much-hyped match maybe embodies the present state of American males’s tennis, and the keenness across the prime group of gamers.
Whereas there’s been countless speak in regards to the now-21-year main title drought for the U.S. males, there are presently 5 American males ranked within the prime 20, together with Shelton (No. 13) and Tiafoe (No. 20). The group has been amassing wins, producing viral moments and headlines — and appears nearer to snapping the streak than they’ve in years.
And so they imagine considered one of them can win it.
“We have all been enjoying very well,” Tiafoe mentioned on Wednesday. “There is a window, there’s a gap within the recreation … I believe that is positively the one [Slam] that we will win. We simply have not carried out it but. We’ve 5 guys in prime 20, all guys are harmful, all guys are succesful. It is sort of a ‘Why not?’ factor.”
When Andy Roddick hoisted the trophy on the US Open in 2003, few might have predicted that a long time would move with out one other American man doing the identical. Given the contenders through the years — together with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, who had each gained latest titles at that time — it appeared all however sure Roddick and the brand new technology would take up the mantle.
In fact, few might have additionally predicted the rise and dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic over the following twenty years. It was to not be for the American males.
“If somebody had informed me that on the time, I’d have mentioned, ‘That is f—ed up,'” Roddick’s coach Brad Gilbert, who had beforehand coached Agassi, informed ESPN final yr. “Up till that time, we simply all the time anticipated that American males could be profitable as a result of we all the time had been.”
Sam Querrey reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2017 and John Isner did too on the match the next yr. Tiafoe then thrilled the US Open crowd in 2022 with a stunning run to the semifinals — together with a fourth-round victory over Nadal — and Shelton reached the ultimate 4 throughout final yr’s match. Tommy Paul, presently ranked No. 14, made the 2023 Australian Open semis.
Taylor Fritz, presently the highest-ranked American man at No. 12, has reached 4 main quarterfinals, together with ultimately yr’s US Open and Wimbledon earlier this summer season. All through the season, Fritz and Paul have every gained two ATP titles, and Shelton has gained one.
Getting into the third spherical of the US Open, Tiafoe, Shelton, Fritz, Paul and No. 50 Brandon Nakashima all stay within the draw. (Sebastian Korda, the opposite countryman ranked inside the highest 20, misplaced on Thursday within the second spherical.) Fritz mentioned nobody within the group talks about the truth that no American man has gained a Slam in 21 years because it’s “fairly apparent,” however is aware of all of them use it privately as motivation.
“All of us need to be the one to finish it,” Fritz mentioned earlier this week.
On Friday, Fritz will play unseeded Francisco Comesana, and Nakashima — who upset No. 16 seed Holger Rune within the first spherical — must dig deep to discover a technique to defeat No, 18 seed and Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti. Paul will face Gabriel Diallo on Saturday.
Martin Blackman, the USTA’s common supervisor of participant growth, who has labored with most of the prime Individuals since their early teenagers, feels optimistic in regards to the group’s collective possibilities on the US Open and past.
“I believe American tennis, women and men, is in the most effective place it has been since 1996,” Blackman mentioned on Thursday. “We have spent 15 years making an attempt to get right here. I imagine all 5 [of the top-ranked male players] can win a Slam. That won’t occur, however I imagine that every one 5 of them are able to it. They’ve all been prepared to sacrifice and absolutely decide to this and so they’re not simply completely happy or content material to achieve the quarters or the Spherical of 16.”
The American ladies have fared considerably higher over the past twenty years, with Serena and Venus Williams capturing a number of Slam titles, in addition to Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin and Coco Gauff every profitable one.
Blackman believes it was the ladies’s success — particularly the 2017 US Open by which 4 American ladies reached the semifinals and Stephens gained the title — that was the turning level for the present group of American males.
“That was sort of the start, and it was in all probability a pleasant get up name for the fellows,” Blackman mentioned. “I believe the eye and the visibility the ladies received for that incredible achievement sparked some urgency and was a part of the equation to get up to now.”
In the course of the 2023 assembly between Tiafoe and Shelton, the 2 buddies battled for 4 units in entrance of an enthralled crowd on Ashe. Tiafoe, the extra established veteran, was the group and oddsmakers favourite, however Shelton, who was then simply 20 and in his first full yr on tour, gained the followers over along with his fearless play, relentless power and highly effective hitting. Shelton gained, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.
The 2 met once more within the Houston ultimate in April, with Shelton profitable in three units. Each gamers know Friday’s third-round match might once more go the space — and both approach — however appeared excited for the problem.
“These are the kind of matches that I like, that I dwell for,” Shelton informed reporters on Wednesday. “With the ability to do it somewhat bit earlier on this draw, it nonetheless feels the identical [as last year].”
The winner on Friday will possible arrange a conflict towards Djokovic, the 24-time main champion. Djokovic defeated Shelton in an entertaining match throughout the 2023 semifinals, which turned immortalized when Djokovic used a “hanging up the telephone” gesture to mock Shelton’s earlier celebratory telephone transfer. Djokovic, who lately gained Olympic gold in Paris, stays a favourite for the title, together with 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz, who gained each the French Open and Wimbledon this yr, and world No. 1 and Australian Open victor Jannik Sinner.
In fact, neither Shelton nor Tiafoe had been considering past Friday when talking to the media on Wednesday. However Shelton knew it doesn’t matter what occurred in his third-round match, and all through the match, it will possible solely assist transfer the nation’s prime contingent additional ahead.
“The standard of U.S. males’s tennis is 100% on the rise,” Shelton mentioned. “Each time [one American finds momentum], it sort of places the opposite guys on alert and I believe makes them play even higher. Like after I had grow to be the No. 1 American this yr for four-and-a-half minutes, Taylor Fritz received sizzling. I am not saying that is due to me, however only a by-product, perhaps coincidence. I believe that the extra that we proceed to push one another, we’re shifting in the fitting route.
“Everyone needs that massive subsequent Grand Slam The U.S. males look extra promising than they’ve in 20 years or subsequent massive second for an American star, however I believe the gradual enchancment and development is what’s actually going to place Individuals extra in the direction of the highest of the sport.”
