“Nowhere near my best” – Shelton serves for the second set twice, loses it, and finishes at 2:15am
Ben Shelton served for the second set twice, lost it, and said afterwards that the anger was what turned the match. The American beat Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 at 2:15am, the latest finish of his career, after a three-hour wait to get on court.
Ben Shelton, US Open 2026 | © Imago / Psnewz
Ben Shelton had two chances to serve out the second set and took neither. He called it unacceptable, said the anger helped, and came through 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 against Denis Shapovalov at 2:15am on Saturday to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time since 2023.
It was the latest he has ever finished a match, and it followed a three-hour wait to get on court.
“We waited around for three hours, and when we thought that them putting doubles there would maybe just be an hour,” the No. 8 seed said. “So that was hard to deal with. The first set was rough, and then serving for it twice in the second, giving that up, is just unacceptable. Not an easy night. Nowhere near my best. I got through it.”
He took the first set in a tiebreak and lost the second in another, and the match turned on his own reaction to it rather than on anything he changed.
“I think I just settled in. I think the anger fueled me a little bit,” Shelton said. “I think also just accepting where I was at, the things that I did have, what I needed to do to win, and not trying to play outside my limits.”
Shapovalov, ranked No. 48, had beaten Frenchman Luca Van Assche 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7) and Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to get here. He has now lost all five of his meetings with Shelton.
Nothing about Shelton’s fortnight has been comfortable. He lost the opening set of his first-round match to Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor before winning 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2. He then spent three hours and 25 minutes beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 under a closed roof, out-aced 14 to six. And now this.
I think this is a great way to start the tournament in terms of variety
Asked whether he would rather it had been easier, he refused the premise entirely, and the reason he gave was the variety rather than the toughness.
“Not at all. I think this is a great way to start the tournament in terms of variety,” Shelton said. “I have dealt with a lefty, dealt with a big hitter, dealt with a feel guy, dealt with a massive server, dealt with a spot server, serve and volleyer. I feel well prepared for what’s ahead.”
He has won nine of his last ten matches, and this is his eighth fourth round at a Grand Slam. His best run here remains the semi-final in 2023.
Managing a shoulder, and a serve at 148 mph
He hit a 148 mph serve this week and arrived at the press room with strapping on his arm, which he was quick to describe as precautionary.
“Feeling good. More precautionary,” Shelton said. “Through a slam you’re going to deal with stuff from day to day, match to match. It’s all about managing. Top guys are the best at managing and finding ways through. For me, an important piece is proactively taking care of my shoulder versus going into panic mode after something happens, and also, with the way that I serve, not doing too much.”
He plays Stefanos Tsitsipas next, who reached the fourth round here for the first time in his career on Friday night by beating Jiri Lehecka, and who has taken out two top-20 seeds this fortnight.
“I have been watching his matches. I think he’s playing great,” Shelton said. “His style of tennis can be very, very effective on all surfaces, all-court game, great athlete. We played once my first year on tour. Really looking forward to it.”
Asked what time he expected to get to bed, he did the arithmetic. “Five o’clock, earliest.”
US Open 2026, men’s singles, 3rd round
A. Zverev [1] vs A. Tabilo [25] – not played
L. Darderi [21] vs D. Sweeny (W) – not played
M. Zheng (W) vs A. Gea (L) – not played
Z. Bergs [31] vs B. Van de Zandschulp – not played
K. Khachanov vs B. Bonzi – not played
J. Mensik [17] vs L. Tien [14] – not played
T. Fritz [9] vs F. Cerundolo [24] – not played
A. Blockx [28] vs F. Cobolli [5] – not played
D. Medvedev [7] d. A. Rinderknech [26]: 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
F. Tiafoe [11] d. V. Vacherot [22]: 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
A. Michelsen d. D. Merida: 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-3
T. Etcheverry [27] d. M. Navone: 6-4, 6-4, 6-3
B. Shelton [8] d. D. Shapovalov: 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
S. Tsitsipas d. J. Lehecka [18]: 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-1
T. Paul [20] d. A. Bublik [15]: 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3
C. Alcaraz [2] d. Y. Wu: 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
