So far, so good for [autotag]Ben Shelton[/autotag] at the 2024 US Open.
The 22-year-old American defeated 36-year-old Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, without dropping a break in the second round on Wednesday.
The former Florida Gator leaned on his left-handed power serve, as usual, but he also moved around the court freely on a day when temperatures exceeded 90 degrees and 50 percent humidity in New York City.
Shelton now turns his attention to fellow American Francis Tiafoe in a high-profile, third-round matchup. The two clashed in the quarterfinals of last year’s event with Shelton coming out on top in four sets.
More recently, Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the finals of the 2024 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, 7–5, 4–6, 6–3.
Now ranked 13th overall in the world, and higher than Tiafoe, it’s Shelton’s game to lose.
Still, Shelton expects a strong level of competition from Tiafoe, calling the matchup a “popcorn match,” as in “Go get your popcorn, Shelton and Tiafoe are playing.”
It will be interesting to see how the crowd is split in this one. Both players thrive off the energy from the audience, but Tiafoe is a lovable underdog here.
Barring weather delays, Shelton and Tiafoe should meet on Friday. However, tournament organizers have not announced the match time or court designation yet.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Ben Shelton advances to Round 3 of US Open, sets up QF rematch vs. Tiafoe
