A statement performance in New York
It was one of the clearest displays of the entire tournament: Benjamin Todd Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 16 at the 2026 US Open 6:2, 6:3, 6:4, needing just one hour and 51 minutes to get the job done. For the eighth-seeded American, it was his first ever win over the Greek — in their only previous meeting in Cincinnati in 2023, Tsitsipas had prevailed in two tiebreaks. There was no trace of that dynamic on this evening on the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Shelton dominated with his serve in a manner that gave Tsitsipas almost no room to breathe. The left-hander held serve in every service game and won 84 percent of first-serve points. Twelve aces, complemented by 32 winners, underlined his superiority in black and white. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, failed to win a single return game and converted none of the few break points he managed to create.
Opening set wrapped up in 31 minutes
The first set was an exercise in pure efficiency. Shelton blended raw power with precise serve variation, never allowing Tsitsipas to settle, and claimed the opening set in just 31 minutes at 6:2. Tsitsipas, who had come from a set down to win in each of his three previous matches at the tournament, could find no answer to Shelton's pace this time around.
In the second set the Greek attempted to fight his way back into the match and started somewhat better. However, at 2:5 down he was forced to take a medical timeout, which shifted the momentum decisively in Shelton's favour. The set went to the American 6:3. Shelton maintained baseline control in the third set as well: at 1:1 he landed the decisive break when Tsitsipas dumped a backhand into the net, and he never looked back. Shelton brought up match point with a spectacular overhead smash before closing out the match with a comfortable service game.
Tsitsipas out of rhythm, Shelton in full flow
Tsitsipas's trademark one-handed backhand — the shot that helped him etch his name into tennis history as a Grand Slam finalist on two occasions — found no foothold against Shelton's serve variation and high-pressure game. The world number 53 was never able to find his rhythm and admitted openly after the match that his opponent had simply played better. Shelton himself spoke of finally having found his groove — a significant step up considering he had needed four sets in each of his first three rounds.
With a place in the quarterfinal secured, the dream of a first Grand Slam title by an American man since Andy Roddick's US Open triumph in 2003 remains very much alive. Shelton, who carries a 12:2 record on hard courts since Wimbledon this season, has firmly established himself as one of the hottest contenders for the title at the year's final Major.
