Young American Ben Shelton pulled off an upset to beat world No. 10 Frances Tiafoe in four sets in the US Open quarterfinals in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Shelton, 20, defeated last year’s runner-up 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 to set up a semifinal meeting with Novak Djokovic on Friday.
In doing so he became the youngest American male to reach a US Open semifinal since a 20-year-old Michael Chang made it in 1992.
“I feel like I left it all out here tonight. Emotional battle,” Shelton said after the match.
“Thanks to all you guys for staying so late. Hell of an atmosphere, and thanks for pushing me over the line.”
Shelton was then asked if he knew who he would face next.
“Yeah, he’s won 23 of these or something like that,” Shelton said about Djokovic.
“It doesn’t get much better than that. It’s been tough the last two matches. I’ve been playing Americans, but hopefully you guys bring it for me two nights from now.”
Shelton began the match with all guns blazing, an explosive forehand giving him five straight games to win the opening set.
But Tiafoe held his nerve to take the second before a manic third set that went one day then other, saw Shelton finally prevailed.
The fourth thought was Shelton’s by a long way as he held serve at 5-2 to take the match.
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