Eighth seeded American Ben Shelton fought his way into the Shelton US Open third round with a gritty four set victory over Hubert Hurkacz, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 in a tense afternoon battle inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result extends Shelton’s strong recent record on home soil.
Shelton’s powerful serve provided the expected firepower throughout the match, but it was his composure during pressure moments that ultimately separated him from one of the tour’s most dangerous opponents. Hurkacz pushed back hard after dropping the opening set, forcing the match into a tense third set tiebreak.
The tiebreak proved pivotal to the outcome. Shelton seized control at the crucial moment, building enough of a cushion to avoid a decisive fifth set before closing out the fourth set with a well timed break of serve. The finish sent an energized home crowd into celebration inside the packed stadium.
This victory marks the fourth consecutive year Shelton has advanced to at least the third round of the tournament, continuing a pattern of consistent performance at his home Grand Slam. Analysts note that his combination of power, athleticism, and competitive fire gives him the profile of a legitimate contender for a deep run in New York.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, other seeded players advanced with more comfortable results. The top seed defeated his opponent in straight sets, continuing a smooth path through the tournament’s early rounds without facing significant resistance so far.
One of the day’s most notable storylines came from a veteran player who turned 40 years old during the tournament, a milestone that generated significant attention and warm tributes from fellow competitors and fans throughout the grounds. His continued competitiveness at such an advanced age for professional tennis has impressed observers throughout the event.
An all American matchup earlier in the tournament produced one of the notable upsets of the second round, with a lower ranked player defeating a higher seeded countryman in straight sets. The result continued a trend of competitive, unpredictable matches throughout the tournament’s opening week.
The tournament continues to offer record prize money this year, with the total player compensation pool reaching 108 million dollars, the largest in the event’s long history. Singles champions stand to earn 5.5 million dollars each, representing a significant increase from previous years.
Weather has remained a manageable factor so far, though tournament organizers continue closely monitoring conditions given the potential for heat and humidity to affect play during the current stretch of the schedule. Player wellness protocols remain in place to manage conditions during outdoor matches.
Fans attending in person continue to enjoy a full slate of entertainment beyond just tennis matches, with food, music, and interactive exhibits spread throughout the tournament grounds. Streaming coverage remains extensive, allowing fans worldwide to follow every match throughout each day session.
As the tournament advances into its second week, attention turns to how Shelton and other American contenders handle the step up in competition against increasingly experienced opponents. With his home crowd advantage and current form, expectations continue building around a potential deep run for the young American star.
