“We want an American to win one,” John McEnroe told ESPN on the opening day of the 2024 U.S. Open whereas shedding gentle on the 21-year drought since Andy Roddick gained at Flushing Meadows.
Final yr, then-20-year-old Ben Shelton was two wins away from ending that drought when he grew to become the youngest American man to achieve the US Open semifinals since Michael Chang in 1992. Whereas he fell to eventual winner Novak Djokovic, Shelton skilled the highs and lows of taking part in on the grandest stage in entrance of his residence followers.
A yr later, Shelton brings that newfound knowledge as he resumes the mission. He is off to a rollicking begin, dispatching his first- and second-round opponents in straight units — Dominic Thiem (6-4, 6-2, 6-2) and Roberto Bautista Agut (6-3, 6-4, 6-4) — with out dropping a solitary service recreation.
Shelton’s win over Bautista Agut on Wednesday was so dominant that he struck 59 winners, together with 17 aces, the final of which was clocked at 141 mph. Moreover, he gained 20 consecutive points on his serve within the remaining set to additional set up himself as one of the deadly servers within the sport.