WHAT HAPPENED: The serving bombs were there, as were the blistering forehands. But it was Ben Shelton’s all-court game and ability to escape from trouble that propelled him to match his best Grand Slam result yet on Sunday at the 2023 US Open.
The 20-year-old upset fellow American and 14th seed Tommy Paul, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, to reach his first US Open quarterfinal and second overall (2023 Australian Open). Shelton saved 11 of 14 break points and avenged his Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Paul, who also was trying to reach his first US Open quarterfinal.
Asked what had changed since Australia, Shelton said he’s grown up in the past eight months.
“I really learned how to be mentally tough. You know, when I was playing in Australia after a long week, I was looking at my box, saying, ‘My legs are dead. I'm tired. I can’t go anymore,’” Shelton said. “I realized how important it is for me to believe in myself, believe that I can go all the way, the full distance, emotionally and physically, and now I have that belief here.”
Paul certainly had his chances, including eight break points in the opening set. The favored American was making Shelton labor through his service games, precisely the start that Paul wanted.
But again and again, Shelton would bail himself out of trouble. He’d hit one of his 16 aces or convert defense into offense from the back of the court and outrally Paul. And Shelton made good on his chances, going two for two on break points in the opening set.
In the second, Shelton settled into the match and shifted the pressure to Paul’s side. Shelton was ripping forehands past his compatriot or mixing in drop shots once he had Paul pinned behind the baseline. He broke twice and erased both chances Paul saw.
“When you have that many break points and don't convert many, it's super frustrating,” Paul said. “You feel like you're winning the whole match and nothing, you're not moving up in the scoreboard.”
Armed with a two-set lead, Shelton let loose. He broke his own fastest serve record for the 2023 US Open with two 149 mph serves in the same game. Up two sets and a break, it looked as if Shelton would stride into the quarterfinals.
But midway through the third, Paul’s body language changed, and he gained newfound energy from his No. 1 fan, Eddie from Brooklyn, who was courtside once more. Paul finished points and broke Shelton twice to force a fourth set.
In the second round against Roman Safiullin, Paul had come back from two sets to zero down for the first time in his career. But early in the fourth, Shelton shouted to his box, “This one’s mine!” He made good on that statement by breaking Paul for the sixth time to advance.
WHAT IT MEANS: Shelton, 20, is the youngest American to reach the US Open quarterfinals since 20-year-old Andy Roddick in 2002. Shelton also officially rescued his 2023 campaign.
The left-hander, who turned pro only a year ago after two seasons at the University of Florida, hadn’t won back-to-back tour-level matches since his Australian Open quarterfinal showing. He entered the US Open with a 12-20 record on the year.
But Shelton has found his best tennis on the big stage once more. He will face 10th seed and 2022 US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe or Aussie wild card Rinky Hijikata.
MATCH POINT: Four American men–Shelton, Paul, Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz–made the fourth round of the 2023 US Open. The last time four American men were in the US Open fourth round was 2011: Mardy Fish, John Isner, Andy Roddick and Donald Young.
