Ben Shelton overpowered Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets at the US Open. The American now faces defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a high-stakes quarter-final. The match promises a major test for both players.
Ben Shelton put on a commanding display at Arthur Ashe Stadium, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals. The American won 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, controlling the match from the start. Tsitsipas, a two-time major finalist, struggled to find any rhythm. Shelton’s serve and aggressive approach kept the Greek off balance, and even a medical timeout in the second set did nothing to change the momentum.
This win is a sharp turnaround for Shelton, who had to fight through four-set matches in each of his first three rounds against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz, and Denis Shapovalov. Those early tests may have helped sharpen his game—against Tsitsipas, he finished the job in under two hours without dropping a set. Shelton now has three straight wins over players who have reached the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, showing he’s ready for the tournament’s biggest stages.
Shelton fired 14 aces and won 85% of his first-serve points against Tsitsipas, according to official US Open statistics.
Shelton’s recent results back up his run in New York. Since the North American hard court season began after Wimbledon, he’s gone 12-2 and picked up his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal. This is his sixth major quarter-final and his second at the US Open, after reaching the semi-finals last year. At 23, he’s become one of the most dangerous players left in the draw.
Tsitsipas came into the match with momentum after beating Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils, then Lloyd Harris and Jiri Lehecka. But against Shelton, his game fell apart. A key backhand error at 1-1 in the third set gave Shelton the break, and the American never let up. Tsitsipas couldn’t get his usual aggressive baseline game going, and his frustration was clear as the match slipped away.
Now Shelton faces Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, in the quarter-finals. Alcaraz looked sharp earlier in the day, beating Tommy Paul in straight sets. Despite not playing a match since April before this tournament, Alcaraz has shown no signs of rust. He has a perfect record against Shelton in their previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings, though their last match was at Roland Garros in 2023. As reported earlier, Alcaraz’s return has been one of the main stories of the tournament.
According to the United States Tennis Association, attendance at this year’s US Open has reached record levels, with over 800,000 fans passing through the gates during the first week alone. This surge in spectatorship reflects the growing popularity of tennis in the US and the global appeal of marquee matchups like Shelton vs. Alcaraz.
Shelton now faces his toughest test yet: a champion who has dominated their past meetings and thrives under the spotlight in New York. But Shelton’s recent form and ability to beat top opponents suggest this quarter-final could be closer than the rankings predict. If he plays at the level he showed against Tsitsipas, Shelton could push Alcaraz in what may be one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.
