Frances Tiafoe bested compatriot Ben Shelton in an epic five-setter at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance at the 2024 US Open.
This matchup was played last year as well at Flushing Meadows, and that time around, Shelton proved better, winning in four sets. Things were a bit different this time around because Tiafoe has been playing much better in the lead-up to this match.
He made the Cincinnati Open final, in which he lost to Jannik Sinner, but finding that form was hugely important for him because his year overall has been lackluster. He did face Shelton earlier this year in the Houston Open final and lost to him in three sets.
To his credit, Shelton has been playing at a high level this year, albeit not as good as some might have expected. He won both of his previous matches with ease and looked solid at New York Slam, which is why he was the minor favorite heading into this match.
Still, fans expected a close match, and they got it. The first set was a close one, even though Shelton was on top earlier. He took a break midway through but then lost it at 5-3 when he served for the set.
Luckily for him, Tiafoe played a terrible game to get broken again, which cost him the set. Overall, it was a set in which Shelton was a bit better in crucial moments, which is why he won it.
The second set was a great one from Tiafoe. He didn't serve well, but in play, the American was fantastic, committing very few errors and hitting the ball extremely well. Shelton served at a high level, which allowed him to wiggle out of a 0-40 situation on his serve at 3-3 to remain in the match.
He then held from 0-40 at 4-4 as well, but Tiafoe could finally break his serve at 5-5. He then easily won the set in which he was the better player, 7-5. Shelton was super aggressive but missed a bit too much and only miraculously saved eight break points before Tiafoe finally converted the ninth one.
The third set was important because whoever won it would have momentum on his side. The match was very momentum-based, with both players dominating at different times, so winning it was important.
Shelton broke first and at the perfect time, making it 5-3. He then failed to serve it out, doing the same thing he did in the first set, and this time around, Tiafoe held serve to make it 5-5.
The set eventually ended up in a tie-break, which Tiafoe played horribly as he fell behind 0-6. Shelton then rushed and threw away multiple set points, arriving at 6-5 when he hit a superb ace to win the tie-break 7-5 and the third set.
The fourth set opened well for both, but Tiafoe was the first player to create break chances. He couldn't use them as Shelton's serve once again showed up when he needed it the most.
Shelton ran into problems again in the tenth game of the set when he allowed Tiafoe break points. They were also set points, which the American was able to use to send the match into a decider.
Shelton just missed a bit too much in the fourth set, totaling 16 unforced errors compared to only five by Tiafoe. In the decider, Shelton had the first break chances but failed to use them.
In the very next game, Tiafoe got a break chance, and he broke him, taking a 3-1 lead. He then held his serve to make it 4-1. From there, it was a simple cruise to the finish line, winning the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the 2024 US Open, avenging last year's loss.
0 Comments