There was guaranteed to be at least one American man in the U.S. Open quarterfinals when the fourth-round schedule got underway on Sunday afternoon at Flushing Meadows.
By the end of the night, the host nation could multiply that by three.
Ben Shelton was the first to book his spot in the final eight, as he won an all-American showdown against Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The 20-year-old fired two 149 MPH aces on his way to victory after two hours and 49 minutes. Those broke what was already Shelton’s own record at this tournament, having previously blasted a 147 MPH serve against Aslan Karatsev in the third round.
“I think straight adrenaline,” Shelton said when asked about how he hit the pair of 149 MPH missiles. “I think any other atmosphere I wouldn’t be able to get it down and I think my arm might have come off. But it is feeling pretty good right now.”
American men’s tennis as a whole has to be feeling great right now, as Shelton is joined in the quarterfinals of their home slam by Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. Both Tiafoe and Fritz won their fourth-round matches in straight sets on Sunday evening, Tiafoe over Rinky Hijikata and Fritz at the expense of Dominic Stricker.
This marks the first time since 2005 (Andre Agassi, James Blake, Robby Ginepri) that three American men are in the U.S. Open quarters.
“I think it’s a really cool opportunity for American tennis,” Shelton commented. “This is what you guys always talk to us about: ‘who’s going to be the next Grand Slam champion? Who’s going to do it?’ I always have the same reply: American tennis is going in a great direction and I don’t know who’s going to be the next to get a slam, be the next Andy Roddick, but I know we’re all on our own path and we’re all doing things our own way and improving year to year. I can see it in these guys–hopefully see the same kind of trend with myself.”
There is still a long way to go before one of the three can win this 2023 U.S. Open title, but at least one will be in the semis. That’s because Shelton and Tiafoe will go head-to-head on Tuesday.
“I called it like two rounds ago,” Fritz insisted. “I said, ‘Hey, there’s definitely going to be an American in the semifinals on that side.'”
He was right.
Foe-Shelton, who ya got?
Why are American players all about huge serving, with notable exceptions of course? Tiafoe being one of them.
Ben/Frances. Pick it.