Ben Shelton matches his own 2023 US Open feat after third-round victory

Ben Shelton replicated his 2023 US Open triumph by advancing to the fourth round for the first time since that year, defeating Denis Shapovalov in four sets. The 23-year-old American player played late into Friday night, securing a victory in a hard-fought match. Shelton and Shapovalov exchanged two close sets, both of which went to tiebreakers.

Shelton emerged victorious in the first set 7-6, but lost the second set before winning the next two sets 6-3 and 6-4 respectively. This accomplishment puts Shelton in the company of his 2023 self, who reached the semifinals before losing to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Shelton's previous attempts to reach this stage in subsequent tournaments fell short, leaving his fans disappointed.

However, his progress this year offers a glimmer of hope. The match against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16 is poised to be a highly anticipated clash, potentially propelling Shelton into another Grand Slam semifinal. Should he triumph in the coming round, Carlos Alcaraz would likely be his next probable opponent.