New York – The Americans in men’s brackets are bigger than at any time in the past quarter of a century. Probably the best crop in a long time, with two leaders Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton kicking off the game on Sunday.
Shelton, the sixth seed, was a Grand Slam semi-finalist twice, and in the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, it took only 2 hours and 7 minutes to surpass Peru’s qualifiers Ignacio Buse 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, the event’s debut, not Sunday.
Fritz, the fourth seed and runner-up for Jannik Sinner of Flushing Meadows a year ago, took 10 minutes less to continue to beat another American man, Emilio Nava, in Louis Armstrong Stadium, with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Overall, the territory has 23 men, the most since 1997 when Fritz called the “most important game for Americans throughout the year.” With 25 American women, it is a milestone for groups that regularly develop Grand Slam champions and finalists.
“I do think there’s a competition between us all,” Fritz said of these people.
They are all chasing the same award: the first Grand Slam singles trophy for the American man since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003.
However, that’s quite a bit of the way, especially considering that Sinners and second-place Carlos Alcaraz have combined the past seven major titles.
“Once you start looking forward, you stumbling,” Shelton said. Shelton said he lost to Sinner in the Australian Open semifinal in January, and lost to the fourth round of the French Open in July in the fourth round of the French Open in June.
“It’s a sure guy,” Sheldon said of the U.S. Open, reaching four games in 2023. “This is my peak tennis, and when I was a kid, I dreamed of it.”
He made some moments worth mentioning on Sunday while accumulating more than double the winners, including a swinging forehand who looks a lot like his idol (the other left-handed) doing it under the name Rafael Nadal.
Shelton won the game on 26 of 33 entry points and saved all five of Buse’s five breakout chances.
Similarly, Fritz swept out all four breakthrough points he faced with a 13-13 score in 14 goals, saying: “I used to know I was doing great here before.”
What else happened to the U.S. Open on Sunday?
She won the game in New York for the first time since Emma Raducanu won the 2021 U.S. Open, eliminating Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2. Players in other actions include No. 1 seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, while at night, Novak Djokovic plans to face 19-year-old California learner Tien before finishing second in 2024 with Mayar Sherif in his final match.
Who’s scheduled for the U.S. Open Monday?
Venus Williams plans to return to Grand Slam tennis after two years of absence to meet with 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova on Monday night. The 45-year-old Williams is the seven-time main singles champion. Other shows on the next day include Alcaraz vs. US Riley OPelka of the big service, Australian Open champion Madison Keys and two-time U.S. Open player Frances Tiafoe.
