This time the All-American showdown between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton comes a little earlier.
Both men advanced to a third-round meeting of the US Open after both comfortably making it through the second round on a hot, humid Wednesday in Flushing.
Shelton defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, while Tiafoe led 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 before Alexander Shevchenko retired.
Tiafoe then celebrated with Knicks star Mikal Bridges on the sidelines.
It was a repeat of last year’s quarterfinal duel, which Shelton won, but this time two rounds earlier.
“I’m really looking forward to it. We had a great battle in the quarterfinals last year and I’m sure it will be a popcorn match again,” Shelton said.
“He’s obviously a lot like me in terms of the enthusiasm and energy he shows on the court, and he has such a big game, such big shots and serves, he gets the crowd going. He’s 20, 21 years old. He’s young, funny, cracks jokes, is about as immature as I am,” Tiafoe said with a grin. “We always have fun joking around and cracking jokes, for sure.”
“I mean, his serve is obviously great. He has one of the better serves on tour, no question. Especially being a left-hander, he hits all the spots and changes the pace pretty well. It’s going to be tough, but I’m super excited.”
Tiafoe achieved the desired result, although not in the way he had hoped.
A well-known NBA fan whose popularity extends beyond tennis, he wore a Jalen Brunson jersey before the game.
He has also worn Kevin Durant and Immanuel Quickley jerseys in the past.
Once he had won the fight, Tiafoe pointed to Bridges in the front row, mimicked his signature bobble-head celebration and walked over to accept congratulations.
“A mutual friend brought us together. I’m friends with a lot of guys in the league. … I celebrate basketball a lot. I did his basketball celebration after the game and he laughed,” Tiafoe said. “Yeah, it’s all just my love for basketball and they just follow me because someone of color plays tennis, that’s kind of the connection.”
“It’s funny. I was actually going to wear a Mikal Bridges because he was coming to the game and he texted me that he was coming to the game. But I’m just not a morning person, so I put it on and then took it off to go to practice. … But yeah, Brunson, he’s the man here. He’s damn close to being bigger than Jay-Z.”
Tiafoe, who reached the semifinals in Flushing two years ago, was in control throughout.
He secured the first set with a break against Shevchenko and took a 5-1 lead in the second set with a double break before also winning this set.
Shevchenko had to call the coach after the second set and gave up in the third.
Tiafoe seems to have regained his momentum after hiring David Witt as coach.
Before he skipped the Olympics, he had struggled at Wimbledon, losing 15-15.
Since Atlanta, when he brought Witt – who had coached Venus Williams, Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari – into the team, Tiafoe has an 11-4 record and won seven of his last eight matches.
The 21-year-old Shelton defeated Spaniard Bautista Agut in the stands in straight sets.
Serving at 141 miles per hour — not even his previous best as tour leader — Shelton hit 17 aces, hit 59 winners and took just 2-10 to win, roaring after the final point.
“I think I moved extremely well,” said Shelton. “I served well and hit my forehand well. Today I didn’t get broken and was decisive in the crucial moments when it mattered. I’m happy with my game.”
Shelton defeated Tiafoe last year to become the youngest American since 1992 to reach the semifinals of the US Open, where he eventually lost to Novak Djokovic.
“It wasn’t easy. I wasn’t happy about it at all. I had a bad season after that,” Tiafoe said. “Things you definitely learn from. Everything that happens in your career, all the ups and downs, just prepares you for better moments. I’m really looking forward to the game and any opportunity to do it again.”
