One day after the leader of American men’s tennis over the past decade called it a career, the next generation delivered the best day for American men’s tennis in more than a decade.
Carrying the proverbial torch passed to them by John Isner, four players from the United States in the men’s singles main draw advanced to the U.S. Open fourth round on Friday. It’s the first time that has happened since 2011.
The success-starved USTA has Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton to thank. Fritz erased Jakub Mensik 6-1, 6-2, 6-0, while Tiafoe, Paul, and Shelton earned respective four-set victories over Adrian Mannarino, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Aslan Karatsev.
In his 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Karatsev, Shelton fired 26 aces compared to only four double-faults, won 86 percent of his first-serve points, was broken just once, and lost a mere one point on his serve in the entire opening set. The 20-year-old clocked a 147 MPH ace, too–marking the fastest of the tournament so far.
“I am really pleased with my performance today,” Shelton assured. “(I’m) happy with the way I served; I think it was one of my best serving days ever. I think I had the most aces I have had in a match and it was the day after John Isner played his last match. It is kind of weird. Maybe he left some of his serving magic out for me, so thanks Johnny.”
At least one American man is guaranteed to reach the quarterfinals, as it will be Shelton vs. Paul on Sunday. It’s a rematch of a 2023 Australian Open quarterfinal showdown, which Paul won 7-6(6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
“I’m happy to see him doing well this week,” Paul said of Shelton. “(It) should be a fun match. I think everyone is excited about both of us right now. I’m excited for that matchup.”
The overall American excitement is obvious, and not just because four men are into the last 16. That number can grow to five on Saturday, when Michael Mmoh takes the court two days after beating John Isner in a five-set thriller that proved to be the 38-year-old’s final match. It would be the first time that five men from the host nation have reached the fourth round since 1995.
There is a great chance that at least one advances to the semifinals, too, as the other quarterfinal matchup in the Paul-Shelton section of the draw is Tiafoe vs. Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata.
“I am proud to be an American,” Shelton told the Grandstand crowd following his win over Karatsev. “This is the greatest atmosphere in tennis, so being an American here is unmatched.”
“This is the best tournament for Americans to play in,” Paul agreed. “Obviously around the grounds everyone is really stoked and excited about the Americans. Every time I pass one of the TVs here, it’s like, ‘Is an American (man) gonna win a slam for the first time in 20 years?'”
Let’s not get carried away just yet, but the “USA” chants are starting to grow louder and louder.
who will reach the semis?