US Open 20How Tiafoe, Shelton third round match will shape the tournament

America’s tennis star Frances Tiafoe has opened up about a rematch against fellow countryman Ben Shelton in the US Open 2024. The fourth and final Grand Slam has now moved into the third-round phase, where the remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize.

Tiafoe booked his place in the third round of the mega-event as he was awarded a walkover in the round of 64 clash against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko. The match score at the time of the conclusion was 6-4, 6-1, 1-0. With that win, he sets up a rematch of the last year’s clash against Shelton in the US Open. The 21-year-old booked his place in the next round after beating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Tiafoe, while speaking to the media after securing his place in the third round, expressed excitement about facing his fellow countrymen in the round of 32. The Maryland-born also highlighted how difficult it would be to face a player of Shelton’s quality, who, according to him, has ‘one of the better serves on the tour’.

“You know, he's 20, 21 years old,” he said. “He's young, funny, cracks jokes. Just about as immature as I am (smiling). We always have fun joking around and cracking jokes, for sure. He's got one of the better serves on the tour, no question. Especially a lefty, he hits all the spots, changes pace quite well. It's going to be tough but I'm super excited."

It will be third meeting between the two in professional tennis. In the previous two meetings, it was Shelton who came out on top on both occasions. Their most recent meeting was during the Houston Open where the 21-year-old came out on top with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.