Ben Shelton’s stunning five-set victory over world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open has ignited optimism that an American man may soon end a two-decade Grand Slam title drought. Shelton, who defeated Alcaraz in a match that concluded early Wednesday morning, advanced to the semifinals.
Scott Perelman, Shelton’s former coach and a current assistant at TCU, expressed little surprise at the upset. "I’ve been saying for a long time, he will be the first American to win the Grand Slam out of this group of guys that are all fighting for it now," Perelman told The Post. Perelman has known Shelton since he was nine years old, having worked under Shelton’s father, Bryan, at the University of Florida, the same institution where Shelton later won the NCAA singles championship in 2022.
Shelton's win marks a significant achievement, making him only the second American man in the past 20 years to secure a top 3 win at the U.S. Open, following Frances Tiafoe's defeat of Rafael Nadal in 2022. The thrilling quarterfinal match score was 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7).
A Promising Era for American Men's Tennis
The tournament has been marked by the strong performances of American players, with Shelton’s upset and Tiafoe’s own five-set comeback victory ensuring an American presence in the U.S. Open final. This scenario has become a focal point of discussions at Flushing Meadows, highlighting a potential resurgence for American men's tennis.
"The guys, we’ve been doing pretty well. Someone is always going deep in majors," Tiafoe commented on the success of American players, including Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, and Tommy Paul. "Hopefully we can do the thing, and that’s ultimately try to do the thing after two weeks. That’s like the next big step. I think U.S. tennis is in a great place."
Perelman noted Shelton's readiness for high-stakes matches. "He loves the game and loves being on a big stage. … This is how he’s wired," he said. Perelman also credited Shelton’s father for his role in preparing his son for moments like the victory over Alcaraz, observing that Shelton displayed complete emotional control during the match, which he likened to watching "Secretariat, the greatest horse of all time."