Ben Shelton Shocks Frances Tiafoe in All-American Battle
US Open
September 6, 2023
Ben Shelton just became the youngest American male to reach the US Open semi-finals since 1992.
He defeated top-ten star Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 in a late-night thriller on Arthur Ashe.
The third-set tie-break proved the key, when Shelton squandered successive set points but Tiafoe simply couldn’t take advantage.
Shelton then composed himself to close out the breaker and never looked back.
His reward is a first Grand Slam semi-final – and what promises to be an epic showdown against Novak Djokovic.
The future is here! The next generation stars just keep breaking through, to our great delight.
Ben Shelton will be another new superstar to watch at Wimbledon 2024 – and Novak Djokovic is already a total legend at the All England Club!
How did Shelton do it against favourite Tiafoe in their all-American US Open quarter-final?
The youngster reckons he has found new psychological strength to add to his armoury of huge serves and naturally powerful stroke play.
Ben Shelton explained: ‘I think the mental has improved more than the physical. Plenty of times I could have gone over to my box and said “Guys, I’m cooked.” Instead I told myself “I’m fine and he’s feeling it too.”
‘I think being able to flip it in your head is more than half the battle. And I’ve definitely made some strides physically too.’
Sadly Taylor Fritz wasn’t able to take the big psychological strides necessary to give himself a better chance of ending his losing run against the great Djokovic, who won their quarter-final with relative ease in the end, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
But Coco Gauff stayed strong to fend off a ferocious fightback from Jelena Ostapenko in the second set of their clash. The final score of 6-0, 6-2 makes it all sound easy – and the first set was, thanks to Gauff’s highly aggressive start.
But Ostapenko is famous for her three-set victories in this tournament. And she appeared to be turning the tide once more, until Coco held firm and crushed her comeback bid with awesome defence.
Gauff now plays Karolina Muchova – and has an amazing chance to reach her first final at her home Grand Slam.
Come and see young American hot-shots Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff at Wimbledon 2024!
Imagine how strong they will have become by next July! Wimbledon 2024 could be America’s year – and Coco in particular has a fantastic shot at glory in London.
We can get you some of the best seats in the house on historic Centre Court, where British royalty rubs shoulders with Hollywood glamour.