Ben Shelton fought tooth and nail against Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday, pulling off a tight four-set victory that pushed him into the third round of the 2026 U.S. Open. The top-seeded American, seeded 8th overall in the men’s draw, had to dig deep to dispatch the unseeded Hurkacz, securing his spot but not without a serious battle.
The Four-Set Grind Is Real
Man, if you watched this match, you know Shelton poured it all out there. He beat Hurkacz with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), and 7-5 scoreline, and you could feel the intensity. This wasn’t some easy cruise. He was visibly overcome with emotion after clinching that final point, letting out a celebration that showed you exactly how much this win meant. Think about it: this is back-to-back four-set matchups for Shelton in this U.S. Open. The dude is putting in WORK. It hasn’t been a smooth ride at all to start this major. Remember his first-round match against Tallon Griekspoor? He dropped the first set there, too, before absolutely refusing to quit and bouncing back to take three straight sets for the win. That kind of fight, coming back repeatedly, is what makes a champion, and he’s definitely showing it early.
The Third Round Monster Awaits
Now, here’s where it gets real. Shelton is through to the third round, and while we don’t know who he’ll face yet, it’s the winner of Denis Shavlov and Luca Van Assche, both unseeded. This round is historically a huge hurdle for him. This is his sixth U.S. Open appearance as a 23-year-old, and the third round has been brutal. He’s reached this stage three times before this year, but he’s lost in two of those appearances, including each of the last two years. That’s a tough pattern to break. We all remember his incredible run to the semifinals in 2023, where he eventually fell to the legendary No. 2 Novak Djokovic in straight sets. That was a high point, but he needs to get past this third-round wall first. He’s one of six seeded Americans in the draw this year, so there’s a whole lot riding on him keeping that American flag flying deep into the tournament.
So, the question is: can Shelton finally conquer his third-round demons? He’s clearly got the fight in him, battling through these tough four-setters. It’s going to be absolutely essential for him to bring that same intensity and focus into his next match. Breaking this pattern would not only propel him further into the tournament but also prove he’s taken that crucial next step in his Grand Slam career. We’re all watching to see if he can make it happen.
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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