Hurricane Shelton overwhelms Tsitsipas and will face Alcaraz in the quarterfinals
Among all the scenarios that could have occurred in the match, the one where the American dominated the Greek and gave him not a single option came true. We will have an early final between Shelton and Alcaraz.
I would love to tell you that it was an unforgettable match, one worth staying up for. However, the score of the victory of Ben Shelton against Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-2, 6-3, 6-4) in the fourth round of the US Open does not lie in the slightest. It simply recounts what happened: one man, inspired, crushing another without showing any mercy.
The difference between the two was not just technical; it was also a matter of spirit. Shelton plays with fire, confidence, and challenge, enjoying every shot and feeding off a crowd that responds to every celebration. There is electricity in his racket and in his gestures. He is the showman Shelton, the one who turns every serve into a statement of intent and every winner into an invitation for New York to get excited.
The serve, as almost always, ended up being one of the great differences. Shelton gave Tsitsipas practically no options when he put the ball in play. The Greek barely found opportunities to make an impact during the rallies, and when he did manage to get into exchanges, he faced a rival ready to accelerate immediately. The American played that first shot after the serve with extraordinary conviction, among many other things.
But there is another even more important detail: the constant punishment of Tsitsipas's backhand. Shelton identified this as an area to attack and never abandoned it. Ball after ball he persisted, pressed, and forced the Greek to play uncomfortably. There were not too many unforced errors. Every rally seemed designed to move Tsitsipas towards that side and subject him from there.
The result is a flat match, easy to predict, a script completely dominated by Shelton. Tsitsipas never found that immediate response to change the dynamic, while the American advanced with the feeling that everything he tried worked. And that, on a court like Arthur Ashe with a completely engaged crowd, is always a devastating combination.
Great match in the quarter-finals: Shelton vs. Alcaraz
On the other side of the draw, Carlos Alcaraz is already waiting. The Spaniard secured his ticket to the quarter-finals after defeating Tommy Paul in three sets and arrives at this stage of the tournament sending signals of enormous authority after his return to competition. Looking at what remains in the draw, I believe it is only fair to see the Spaniard with the eyes of what he is: the clear favorite to win.
For many, although it may be a bit early, this matchup will be treated like an anticipated final. We are talking about the defending champion against one of the great idols of American tennis, in an Arthur Ashe that promises to turn into a cauldron. What do you think? Is the future champion emerging from this match?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El huracán Shelton arrasa a Tsitsipas y se cita con Alcaraz en cuartos de final