Ben Shelton kicks off his US Open run tonight against Tallon Griekspoor in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and let’s be real, the weight of a generation is on his shoulders. This isn’t just another tournament start; it’s a shot at ending one of the sport’s most brutal droughts. No American man has hoisted a Grand Slam singles trophy since Andy Roddick did it way back in 2003 at, you guessed it, the US Open. That’s a loooong time to wait, folks.
The US Open Is Wide Open: A Chance Like Never Before?
The stakes are higher than ever this year, mostly because the landscape has completely shifted. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is out, sidelined by a knee injury that forced him to withdraw just ten days before the tournament. And then there’s No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who’s just returning after a four-month absence due to his own injury issues. What does that mean? The source article says it perfectly: it’s “anyone’s tournament to win.” Now, Alcaraz is still the favorite, assuming he’s back at peak form, and Zverev is a clear No. 2, sitting pretty with over 7,000 live ranking points when no one else in the field cracks 3,900. But for guys like Shelton and Taylor Fritz, this is a golden chance to finally snap that American dry spell on home hardcourt. Shelton’s been a top-10 American all year, and he’s definitely got the game to make noise.
Big Ben’s Momentum and McEnroe’s Bold Call
What makes Shelton an “outside contender” right now? He’s riding a serious wave after grabbing the Montreal Masters 1000 title recently. That wasn’t just any win, either; it totally snapped a nasty streak of early exits at big tournaments like the French Open and Wimbledon. The guy loves playing in big matches, he’s healthier than he was earlier in the year, and you know the American crowd is going to be absolutely electric for him. Even former American tennis star and ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe is all in on Shelton. “I’m picking Big Ben,” McEnroe told SportsBoom. “I’m going for it. I like Shelton to win the Open. I can stop getting this question after 20-some years: When is the next American going to win a major? I’m sick of it! I’m tired of it.” Even though McEnroe admits Alcaraz is the favorite, he says this is the best chance for Americans in recent memory. Shelton, for his part, isn’t getting ahead of himself, saying it “wouldn’t be smart” to discredit the high-level players out there. He’s respecting his opponents, but not over-respecting them, which is exactly the mindset you want.
So, what’s next for Big Ben? First things first: he’s gotta beat Griekspoor tonight at 7 p.m. ET. That’s the only way he can even start to think about making a real run at this thing. Can he do it? Can he be the one to finally end the drought? We’ll be watching every serve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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