U.S. Open Day Four Recap: Shelton Leads American Charge Into Third Round
Ben Shelton moved another step closer to a return to the U.S. Open semifinals as he defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday evening.
“I feel like I played well and I was happy with how I played the big points,” said Shelton. “It was an electric atmosphere. This is the one tournament that is all about the fans and their energy and passion for the sport.”
Shelton was on fire from the start on Wednesday, ripping 42 winners and breaking six times in seven chances to defeat the two-time former U.S. Open semifinalist.
He draws another veteran in the next round as he will play Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who defeated Australian Jordan Thompson 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3.
The one American man ahead of Shelton in the rankings is last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz, who came back from a set down to defeat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4.
“I think it was a tough match. It was pretty windy out there, and I feel like a lot of shots weren’t necessarily working for me. So I had to kind of adapt and accept it, and kind of just work with what I had, and do what I could do,” Fritz said of his performance. “In the end I think I could have done a lot of things better, but I kind of just buckled down, did my best not to get frustrated that certain things weren’t kind of going for me. Like I said, I played within myself on the day, and [I’m] happy to get it done.”
Fritz will play Switzerland’s Jerome Kym who outlasted 30th seeded American Brandon Nakashima 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8).
The third-highest ranked American Frances Tiafoe got a test from young American qualifier Martin Damm, but prevailed 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(10), 7-5.
“He played really well today, and the moment didn’t get to him,” Tiafoe said. “I’m happy to see a young American play that well. Happy also he didn’t get me, so it was nice.”
Tiafoe will play German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff, who continued his hot play in New York by knocking off 11th seed Holger Rune 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.
Novak Djokovic dropped the first set to American Zachary Svajda, but rebounded to roll to the 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win in the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday. Djokovic faced just one break point over the last three sets to secure his spot in the third-round, where he will play Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Carlos Alcaraz dropped just four games in his second-round showdown, defeating Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-0, 6-3, to move into a match with 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, who beat Connecticut native Eliot Spizzirri 6-0, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4.
