Ben Shelton powered into the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday night, dismissing former world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a last-eight meeting with Carlos Alcaraz. The eighth-seeded American needed just 1 hour 51 minutes under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights to complete the win over the two-time Grand Slam finalist.
Shelton’s Impressive Performance
Shelton had been pushed to four sets in each of his first three matches against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, and Denis Shapovalov, but he raised his level against Tsitsipas, controlling the baseline and protecting his serve throughout. The 23-year-old has now defeated three straight opponents with Top 10 credentials and advances to his sixth major quarterfinal, his second at Flushing Meadows after reaching the semifinals last year.
The victory continues a strong North American swing for the big-serving left-hander, who is 12-2 on hard courts since Wimbledon and captured his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal. Shelton’s consistency and powerful play make him a formidable opponent as he progresses through the tournament.
Tsitsipas arrived with momentum after wins over Arthur Fils, Lloyd Harris, and 18th seed Jiri Lehecka, but he struggled to impose his game. He took a medical timeout late in the second set and was broken early in the third, never recovering as Shelton closed it out without dropping serve. The Greek, 28, is a 13-time ATP Tour champion, but on this night, he was unable to match Shelton’s intensity.
Next up for Shelton is defending champion Alcaraz, who beat Tommy Paul in straight sets earlier in the day. Alcaraz entered the tournament without a match since April but has looked sharp in New York. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 3-0; they last met at Roland Garros last year. This upcoming match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both players seek to advance further in the tournament.
With Shelton’s recent performances, fans are eager to see how he will fare against the seasoned Alcaraz. As the US Open continues, all eyes will be on the next round to witness if Shelton can continue his impressive run.