Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe set up all-American U.S. Open quarterfinal

American Ben Shelton upset one seeded countryman and arrange a quarterfinal showdown with one other to open Day 7 of the lads’s draw on the U.S. Open on Sunday in New York.

Shelton outlasted No. 14 seed Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 within the Spherical of 16. He superior to face No. 10 Frances Tiafoe, who took care of Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.

At 20 years previous, Shelton is the youngest American quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2002. Roddick can be the final American man to win a Grand Slam title (2003 U.S. Open), representing a drought each Shelton and Tiafoe are vying to finish.

“Being at dwelling right here in entrance of an American crowd, I’ve felt the love all week. I performed one other American as we speak and we had an incredible battle,” Shelton mentioned. “It’s exhausting to consider I’m taking part in on Arthur Ashe (Stadium) proper now with the stands utterly full.”

Shelton had a 16-6 benefit in aces and saved 11 of 14 break factors towards Paul. Shelton additionally transformed six of eight alternatives to interrupt Paul’s serve.

It was revenge for Shelton after Paul defeated him within the Australian Open quarterfinal in January.

“I realized to be mentally robust,” Shelton mentioned. “Once I was taking part in in Australia after a protracted week I used to be taking a look at my field saying ‘My legs are useless, I’m drained, I can not go anymore.’ I noticed how necessary it’s to consider in myself. That I can go the complete method emotionally and bodily and now I’ve that perception right here.”

Tiafoe took care of Hijikata in two hours flat, incomes a whopping 15-0 benefit in aces alongside the way in which.

He mentioned the dearth of success by American males on the worldwide tennis scene was a “undoubtedly unstated” motivator for the brand new crop of expertise.

“However I imply, it is undoubtedly an incredible factor now we have, and I hope we simply hold going for a few years,” Tiafoe mentioned. “We’re younger, we’re getting into (our) prime, so let’s hold going.”

Within the two late matches Sunday, No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz will tackle Dominic Stricker of Switzerland and No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia will face Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo.

—Discipline Degree Media