US Edition
Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton – an all-American showdown at the US Open
The pair meet in the US Open last eight on Tuesday in a matchup which offers a window into the future of American men's tennis
Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton’s all-American clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium could well turn out to be the most entertaining meeting of this US Open so far.
They are two of three American men through to the quarterfinals of in New York, for the first time since 2005, and are arguably two of the most popular players of this fortnight. Whatever happens, it guarantees to be box office.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Andy Roddick lifting the trophy at the US Open and, while the Williams sisters led the way on the women’s side, American men’s tennis has been crying out for a champion ever since.
It has also been desperate for personalities. The 1970s, 80s and 90s had them in abundance, with the likes of John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi making headlines on and off the court. Shelton and Tiafoe could well be the antidote, as two of the most magnetic characters at the top of the game.
The firecracker performance everybody was talking about on Sunday came from youngster Shelton, in beating fellow American and 14th-seed Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4 with some fearsome serving.
Shelton, like Tiafoe, oozes charisma and is right at home at the centre of the raucous atmosphere the crowds create at Flushing Meadows. Like his contemporary Alcaraz, he often plays with a smile on his face but also brings a startling intensity that endears him to fans.
“He’s just an extremely loud player,” Tiafoe said of his close friend’s demeanour on court, and was full of praise for his game too. “Hits the ball big, serves huge, pretty much serving at 150 today. He’s so pumped up. Comes to the net. He’s got great volleys. He’s really athletic. He’s fun to watch. He’s saying the loudest c’mon from the first point of the match till the last. He’s yelling. He’s got a lot of energy, so... He’s great for the sport. It’s cool to see a guy like that play.”
Shelton has reached the quarterfinals at a major twice in his first full season on tour. He made his breakthrough at the Australian Open in January, in his first ever trip outside of the US. Signed this year by Roger Federer’s On Running brand, Shelton has been tipped by one of the sport’s legends as a worthy star. In repeating his Melbourne feat at a home major in New York, he will rise to at least 27th in the world.
Not only is he the youngest American man since Roddick in 2002 to reach this stage at the US Open, he is also doing it in style. The 20-year-old hammered down a pair of 149mph serves in one game against Paul, coming close to the official men’s record, John Isner’s 157mph recorded in 2016. “Just straight adrenaline. I think my arm might fall off,” Shelton joked post-match.
He later said that going for too many of those serves might have taken too much energy, as he dropped the third set. But that kind of speed, especially off a 20-year-old’s racket, is rare and the appreciation Shelton got from the crowd was well-deserved.
Looking ahead to do battle with Tiafoe, he described his compatriot as “a big brother” to him. “Frances as a player is electric. He’s a guy who has told me that he believed in me from my first ATP tournament. Just a great guy off the court. But on the court a nightmare to deal with. He does so many things well. One of them being engaging the crowd. He’s just one of those guys where it’s must-see TV. He kind of has that Carlos Alcaraz effect, especially here in New York. This is his place where he really wants to show up. To be able to play against him in the quarterfinals on Arthur Ashe is something that’s pretty special.”
Tiafoe, who is the 10th seed, is very much the favourite going into this tie. He has his eyes on the trophy after falling short in the last-four against eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in 2022, and beat Australian Rinky Hijikata in straight sets on Tuesday to keep him in the running.
He said New York is where he thrives: “This is really why I play my best at the Open every year. It’s that kind of court, man. Obviously to be named Arthur Ashe, the biggest stadium we have, it’s rocking, New York fans, everyone’s drunk. It’s just great. Energy is insane. I think tennis is going to win the day, ultimately. More important, an American is going to be in the semis.”