Ben Shelton reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the second consecutive year after defeating Denis Shapovalov in a third-round match that concluded at 2:07 a.m. on Saturday. The match, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium, was the third of the tournament to extend past 2 a.m.
Shelton, the No. 8 seed, secured the win with a score of 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4. The match lasted 3 hours and 22 minutes. The 23-year-old American's powerful serve was a key factor, with 14 aces recorded, including one at 147 mph.
The late finish was attributed to a preceding women's doubles match featuring Serena and Venus Williams, which ran longer than anticipated. The match between Shelton and Shapovalov did not begin until approximately 10:45 p.m.
"We waited around for three hours, and when we thought that them putting doubles there would maybe just be an hour," Shelton told reporters after the match. "So that was hard to deal with. The first set was rough, and then serving for it twice in the second, giving that up, is just unacceptable. Not an easy night. Nowhere near my best. I got through it."
Shelton's victory sets up a fourth-round clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas, who advanced after defeating Jirie Lehecka in four sets. Shelton reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open in 2023.