Ben Shelton becomes the youngest American male player to reach the US Open Men’s QF since Andy Roddick in 2002. In his first full season on tour, he’s reached 2 Grand Slam Quarterfinals. Big Time Moment for Big Time Ben. 🇺🇸
Shelton uncertain over which American man could win US Open: "I'm not really sure what it's going to take"
Tennis NewsSaturday, 09 September 2023 at 11:11
Ben Shelton has revealed that he has no idea which player could be the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick following the former's defeat in this year's semi-finals.
20-year-old Shelton put together something close to a dream run at the 2023 edition of the New York major. The young American, himself an unseeded player, ousted two of his highly-ranked compatriots.
These were fourteenth seed Tommy Paul, whom he defeated 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Round of 16, and tenth seed Frances Tiafoe, whom he also beat in four sets to make the semi-finals. Surprisingly, this is only Shelton's second season after he turned pro, and only a year after he crashed out of the 2022 US Open in the first round.
Shelton: American tennis is going in right direction
However, Shelton's success at Flushing Meadows came to an end in the semi-finals, where he faced 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The Serb was on form, and ousted the American in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Nevertheless, this year's tournament has been a good demonstration of the talent in American men's tennis, with Shelton, Tiafoe, and ninth seed Taylor Fritz all making the quarter-finals.
In light of this, Shelton was asked in his post-match press conference which American men's player could be the one to break through into the final and win the US Open title for the first time since Roddick achieved this feat twenty years ago in 2003.
In response, Shelton said he really wasn't sure, but was glad that American tennis was moving in the right direction.
"This is a question that I have answered often over the last few months, you know, since I have been out on tour. I'm not really sure what it's going to take.
"I don't know if it's going to be me. I don't know if it's going to be someone else who breaks through. I always say that American tennis seems to be moving in a great direction, the right direction. We have guys making it deep in slams.
"I wish I could have a ball that says when and who is going to be the American who is the first guy since Andy Roddick to win a Grand Slam, but unfortunately I don't have that.
"A lot of us here, three in the quarterfinals, are pushing through," he said.
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