Ben Shelton comes up short in epic duel vs Frances Tiafoe at US Open

The latest chapter in a budding rivalry between two rising American stars in tennis was written on Friday when Frances Tiafoe upset Ben Shelton in the third round of the US Open.

Tiafoe exacted his revenge in five sets, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3. A year ago, it was Shelton who came out on top in the US Open quarterfinals. A newcomer to the pro scene at that time, the former Florida Gator has since emerged as one of the game’s youngest stars. He’s climbed to No. 13 in the world, passing Tiafoe, but that could all change after this latest result.

Shelton is dropping 720 points on Monday in the ATP rankings, and being knocked out in the third round means he’ll add just 90 back. Meanwhile, Tiafoe is just one more win away from replacing all 360 points he earned a year ago, but Shelton is hoping to see him go further than that, or so a lingering midcourt meeting after the game would suggest.

The two know each other well and they are considered the United States’ best options to come out on top of a Grand Slam. Tiafoe granted Shelton a ton or respect in his post-game interview.

“I’ve got to say, Ben’s an incredible player, man. He’s an incredible player. He really is. He goes for all kind of shots. He’s got no care in the world. It’s really annoying. … He’s really talented. He can come up with great shots. So can I,” Tiafoe said. “It’s highlight after highlight. I hope you guys enjoyed the show.”

It would be hard not to enjoy the show, one that seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe suggested should have come at night. The crowds were packed and dueling chants in support of both players rang throughout the match.

Shelton was at his best in the first set, winning 6-4. He delivered some incredible moments and seemingly backed Tiafoe into a corner. Tiafoe never wavered, though. He brought Shelton to 21 break points and converted five in crucial moments. The most important one came to put him 3-1 in the fifth set, and fatigue set in for Shelton.

What’s next for Ben Shelton?

Shelton’s next appearance should come a the Laver Cup in Germany as part of Team World, captained by McEnroe. The Laver Cup puts six Europeans against six players from elsewhere in the world. Twelve matches are played over three days (nine singles and three doubles), with the third set being a 10-point match tiebreak.

Unfortunately, winning the Laver Cup does not award any points in the ATP rankings, so Shelton could opt to play one of the Asian tournaments in September to climb back up a few spots. A pair of 250-point Opens feels beneath him at this point in his career, but he could show up at one of the ATP 500 events at the end of the month.

The next 1000-point event is the Rolex Shanghai Masters. He made it to the quarterfinals of that event last year.

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