The odds favored Ben Shelton to win this match. However, no one, including Shelton was counting [11] Frances Tiafoe out. Shelton came out shaky and tentative. The pressure of the moment, perhaps? In any event, Tiafoe took full advantage to break his opponent and won the first set 6-4. Shelton was not going to lie down and roll over that easily. Although they traded breaks in the second set, Shelton broke a second time to claim the set 6-3.

Frances Tiafoe Fought To The Bitter End

The third set was all Shelton, who won it 6-3. However, both players produced some brilliant tennis in the fourth set. Everyone expected Tiafoe to pull off another miraculous comeback, but he could not. [8] Ben Shelton kept the pressure on his opponent. At 5-6 in the fourth, Tiafoe served to force a tiebreaker. Finally, the pressure got to him, and he double faulted on the second match point gifting Shelton the match and his first trip to a major final.

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Ben Shelton Must Overcome Another Hurdle

Shelton says he will leave it all on the court on Sunday, and he also asked the crowd to bring their energy as well to aid his attempt to break the long drought. It has been twenty-three years since an American man won a major title. It has been twenty-three years since an American man won the US Open. Shelton was 0:3 against Carlos Alcaraz, and he is 0:5 against Alexander Zverev. The odds are definitely not in his favor, but he has improved significantly since their last meeting at the Nitto ATP Finals. Let’s go Ben!

Congratulations To The Women Doubles’ Champions

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[1] Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend were vying for their first US Open championship as a team. Siniakova has won the US Open doubles title previously with two different partners. The young American duo of Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery won the first set 7-5. One of two things could have happened: they could have pulled off the upset because the number one seeds were feeling the pressure; or they would lose the match because the number one seeds found their top form. Well, the second thing happened, the top seeds found their game and although it was a shaky ending, they won 5-7, 6-0, 6-2. This victory gave Taylor Townsend a career grand slam (meaning, she now owns a trophy from all four majors).

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