NEW YORK, N.Y. — American hopes for a deep run at the US Open took a major hit as two of the country’s top men’s players, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, were eliminated in the third round. Shelton was forced to retire from his match due to a shoulder injury, while Tiafoe suffered a straight-sets defeat. The losses leave a difficult path for the remaining American men in the tournament.
Shelton’s Unfortunate Exit
The sixth-seeded Ben Shelton, who was a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2023, was forced to withdraw from his match against French veteran Adrian Mannarino due to a left-shoulder injury. The injury appeared to occur during the fourth set as Shelton was fighting to stay in the match. After taking a medical timeout and receiving treatment, he attempted to continue but ultimately made the difficult decision to retire before the start of the fifth set.
Shelton, who has had a strong season, was visibly emotional as he left the court, his face buried in his towel. The retirement marks a disappointing end to what many had hoped would be a promising tournament for the young American.
“I just did something to my shoulder; I don’t know what it is. I’m in a lot of pain,” Shelton was heard telling his father and coach, Bryan Shelton, on the sidelines.
The premature end to Shelton’s campaign is a significant blow to the American men’s field, which has been seeking a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s victory at the US Open in 2003.
Tiafoe’s Upset Loss
Hours after Shelton’s retirement, Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed and a two-time US Open semifinalist in the past three years, was eliminated by Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Struff, a qualifier, defeated Tiafoe in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, in a match that lasted just over two hours.
Tiafoe struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match, making numerous unforced errors. While he managed to fight back from a deficit in the third set and force a tiebreak, he was unable to close out the set. The loss marks Tiafoe’s earliest exit from the US Open since 2019.
“It’s going to be hard to swallow how I played today and being out of the US Open, for sure, this early,” Tiafoe told reporters after the match. His struggles this season have continued, as he has not made it past the fourth round of a major tournament.
The losses of both Shelton and Tiafoe leave only a few American men remaining in the tournament, including fourth seed Taylor Fritz. While the American women’s field has had more success, the men’s side continues to face a daunting challenge to end the long Grand Slam drought. For full tournament results and player news, visit the official US Open website.