US OPEN – New York. By Leo Canaparo. Photo courtesy USTA
Ben Shelton continues to carry the hopes of American tennis at the US Open. The eighth-seeded American produced another hard-fought performance on Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, defeating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 to reach the third round in New York.
It was a match between two of the biggest servers in the game, and for long stretches, very little separated them. Shelton started strongly and took control of the opening set, but Hurkacz responded with authority in the second, making the American work for every opportunity.
The third set became the turning point of the match. With neither player able to establish a decisive advantage, the contest went to a tiebreak, where Shelton showed greater composure and raised his level at the most important moments to take a crucial lead.
The fourth set was equally tense. Hurkacz continued to apply pressure with his powerful serve and aggressive game, but Shelton refused to give in. The American saved two break points in the ninth game, avoiding the possibility of being pushed into a deciding fifth set.
With the pressure mounting, Shelton finally found the breakthrough in the 12th game. His aggressive forehand and the energy provided by the New York crowd helped him close out the match and celebrate another important victory.
Shelton has now survived two demanding four-set matches in his first two appearances at this year’s US Open. After overcoming Tallon Griekspoor in the opening round, he was again forced to battle against a dangerous opponent with major weapons.
The victory is particularly significant for Shelton, one of the leading American hopes in the men’s draw. At just 23 years old, the left-hander has already demonstrated that he can perform on the biggest stages, reaching the semifinals of the US Open in 2023.
This season has also been an important one for the American, who arrived in New York after winning the title in Canada and with four trophies already collected during 2026.
The home crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium once again played an important role, giving Shelton extra energy during the most difficult moments of the match. And the American responded with the kind of fighting spirit that could make him one of the players to watch as the tournament progresses.
Shelton is now into the third round, keeping alive the dream of becoming the first American man to win the US Open since 2003.
The road is still long, but with his powerful serve, explosive forehand and growing confidence, Ben Shelton continues to be one of the biggest hopes for the home fans in New York.