US OPEN – New York. By Leo Canaparo. Photo courtesy USTA
It was a demanding but successful night for two of the leading American hopes at the 2026 US Open. Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton both faced difficult challenges under the lights in New York, but each found a way to move forward and keep the home crowd dreaming.
Tiafoe, the 11th seed and a two-time US Open semifinalist, needed all five sets to overcome fellow American Martin Damm in the final match of the night at Louis Armstrong Stadium. After nearly three hours of powerful baseline exchanges and big serving, Tiafoe prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The victory was far from routine. Tiafoe took the opening set, but Damm, using his imposing 6-foot-8 frame and a highly effective serve, gradually took control of the match. The younger American captured the second and third sets and suddenly put one of the tournament’s most recognizable home favorites under serious pressure.
But Tiafoe’s experience eventually made the difference.
The two-time semifinalist in New York refused to panic and produced his best tennis when the match demanded it most. He raised his level in the fourth set and then maintained his composure in the decider to complete an impressive comeback.
“It was a crazy match. He has such a good serve,” Tiafoe said of Damm, who won 82% (73/89) of his first-serve points. “The last two sets I wanted to be tough. I was like, if I could get one break and just take care of my serve, I’m still in it.
“I’ve won a lot matches that I shouldn’t have this year, and today is a testament to that. I just tapped into the work that I’ve been doing, and lucky to get it done.”
Tiafoe’s ability to survive another difficult opening-round test also extended his remarkable consistency at the Grand Slam level, continuing one of the longest active first-round winning streaks on the men’s tour.
SHELTON OVERCOMES A SHAKY START
Earlier, Ben Shelton also gave the American fans plenty to celebrate, although his night at Arthur Ashe Stadium began in the worst possible way.
The eighth seed was completely outplayed in the opening set by the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor, losing it 6-1. Shelton struggled with his rhythm and accumulated unforced errors, but the powerful left-hander quickly changed the momentum of the match.
Once he settled down, Shelton became increasingly aggressive and began to impose the combination of his explosive serve and powerful forehand. He stormed through the second set 6-1 before surviving a tight third-set battle in the tiebreak.
After winning the crucial breaker 7-3, Shelton took complete control. The American raced to a 4-0 advantage in the fourth set and eventually completed a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory.
For Shelton, the win represented another important step in front of his home fans. The 23-year-old has arrived in New York with momentum and with the enormous ambition of becoming the first American man to win the US Open since 2003.
For Tiafoe and Shelton, the opening round was not easy. Both were tested, both had to overcome moments of adversity, and both showed the fighting spirit that American fans hope can carry them deep into the second week at Flushing Meadows.
On a night when the pressure of playing at home was impossible to ignore, Tiafoe and Shelton found the same answer: survive, fight, and move on.