WHAT HAPPENED: Ben Shelton, the 21-year-old big-hitting American, used his massive lefty serve and blistering forehand, as well as well-timed incursions to the net, to overpower the former US Open champion Dominic Thiem of Austria, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, in the first match of the 2024 US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday. Thiem, 30, has said he will retire from the tour at the end of this season.
Reprising their second-round match from last year’s US Open, which Shelton won after Thiem was forced to retire after one set, the two stayed on serve in the opening set, with the veteran Thiem holding his own through nine games. Serving at 4-5, though, Thiem was broken on Shelton’s third break-point opportunity of the game and the longest rally of the first set.
Shelton broke again for an early lead in the second set and then comfortably coasted to victory in straight sets to advance to the second round.
Shelton blasted 34 winners on the day and found an intimidating groove on his big serve, winning 91 percent of his first-serve points and losing just eight points overall on serve. The young American was also extremely successful rushing the net — a new wrinkle in his game — wining 24 of 28 points in the forecourt.
Thiem showed occasional flashes of the vintage potency of his supercharged one-handed backhand and heavy topspin forehand, a game that propelled him to No. 3 in the world, though far too little to unsettle Shelton or to counter the American’s imposing serve.
Interviewed on court after his final match at a major, Thiem, who won his lone major during a spectator-less US Open during the pandemic, said “It’s a very important moment for me, because I had the greatest success of my career on this court. Unfortunately, I had this success without any of you.”
“I’m super happy that I got the chance to play US Open, my last match here on this court…now I can spend time with you guys and say thank you to all of you and make the time up for what we have missed four years ago.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Shelton, up to a career-high ranking of No. 13, had his finest result in a major at last year’s US Open, reaching the semifinal, where the American lost to Novak Djokovic. A year later, Shelton is fitter and in his estimation a better all-around player than the version who blasted his way into prominence with raw power a year ago. He is still developing his game, however, adding net advances to his power baseline game and complementing his flashy repertoire with better consistency and shot selection.
Thiem, down to No. 209 in the rankings and awarded a wild card at Flushing Meadows in his final appearance, is just 2-8 in his final season on tour. The Austrian will finish his career with an excellent record in majors: 75-36 overall (23-9 at the US Open, including the title in 2020). He reached the final of four Slams (the 2018 and 2019 French Opens and the 2020 Australian Open). Thiem suffered debilitating wrist injuries soon after his US Open triumph and never fully recovered the power of his once-lethal topspin groundstrokes. He never won another ATP title, finishing his career with 17 singles trophies.
Thiem retires as a player whose career was dramatically limited by injury, but who has long been considered by his peers one of the best-liked players on tour. Thiem has expressed few regrets at how his career turned out, telling the ATP recently, “When I think back on my career, the main emotions are really big gratitude for everything I was able to experience. I was very lucky to realize basically all my dreams.”
MATCH POINT: Shelton is attempting to become the first American man to reach consecutive US Open semifinals since Andre Agassi in 2002 and 2003. The youngster entered last year’s US Open as No. 47 before advancing to his first Grand Slam semifinal in New York. Shelton is again in fellow American Frances Tiafoe’s and Djokovic’s section of the draw. (Shelton defeated Tiafoe here last year in the quarters before falling to eventual champion Novak Djokovic).
