There was a time when a U.S. Open quarterfinal match between two big-hitting American men could simply be referred to as “tennis,” rather than as a watershed moment for the sport in the United States.
This is how the home Grand Slam tournament would always be for the country that has won the Davis Cup, the team event contested by many nations, the most. But it wasn’t that way for 18 years, until two young Black men, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, made it so again on Tuesday night.
Tiafoe, the son of a tennis facility maintenance man in suburban Maryland, and Shelton, the son of a former top-60 tour pro who became a highly recognized college coach, come from opposite backgrounds. Tiafoe, the 25-year-old veteran who has become one of the tour’s most popular players, has been helping Shelton, the 20-year-old who didn’t have a passport a year ago, through his debut season as a professional.
“Great guy off the court, but a nightmare to deal with,” Shelton said of Tiafoe over the weekend.
Shelton, the powerful lefty whose serves of over 150 mph and forehands of 112 mph have become the talk of the tournament, was correct.
“Ben has wanted to play me at the Open for a long time,” Tiafoe said of his game plan. “Make him play a lot of balls, and just try to make it a really tough night for him.”
Tiafoe and Shelton put up a tight, nervy show that lasted past midnight and into Wednesday morning at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a thick, steamy, and breezeless night that seemed to get hotter as it went on. The US Open is famed for its late-night spectacles, historic clashes that only a select few can follow through to the end. It wasn’t like that on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the stadium remained loud and alive and Shelton and Tiafoe fought blows and counterpunches from beginning to end.
Shelton won in straight sets, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Tiafoe seemed tight and sloppy, giving up two service breaks and doing much of Shelton’s work for him in the first set.
But Tiafoe quickly returned to form, refusing to treat the match like a testosterone-fueled hitting fest. He grinded out points and games while allowing Shelton to cool off and tighten up, as younger players frequently do, in order to draw even.
The match hinged on a pivotal third-set tiebreaker, a seesaw struggle that Shelton was poised to win before committing two consecutive double faults. Tiafoe, who had relinquished control of the set just a few games previously, found himself on the verge of disaster once more.
With Tiafoe a point away from taking a two-sets-to-one lead, Shelton is sure to have plenty of moments like these in the future, barring an injury or some other tragedy.
When Shelton lays into a serve or a stroke like only he and Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 1, can these days, a distinct sound emanates from his racket. It sounds more like a sledgehammer nailing a spike into a railroad tie than the familiar thwop of strings hitting a felt ball. Tiafoe’s serve was excellent. Shelton’s forehand return was inches away from the corner. Tiafoe scarcely made a move for it.
“Sometimes you just have to shut off the brain, close your eyes, and swing,” Shelton explained.
Shelton had the set and, for all intents and purposes, the match in the opening game of the fourth set, breaking Tiafoe’s serve and never looking back.
“Left it all out there tonight,” Shelton admitted. “Emotional battle.”
Novak Djokovic, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, will play in the semifinals on Friday.
“Doesn’t get any better than that,” Shelton exclaimed.
Perhaps it will.
