Ben Shelton: Shelton takes the opening set against Stefanos Tsitsipas
Ben Shelton is in the men’s singles round of 16 at the 2026 U.S. Open, where he is facing Stefanos Tsitsipas. Live coverage reports that Shelton took the opening set, but the available reporting does not establish the final result of the match. U.S. Open 2026 live updates
Shelton takes the opening set against Stefanos Tsitsipas
Shelton began the match strongly, according to live updates from the U.S. Open. He broke Tsitsipas to take the first set after a forehand drop shot created an opportunity, followed by a down-the-line winner and a long return. The coverage also described Shelton as effective with his returns, first serve, net play and volleys. Tsitsipas then held serve to remain in the match. U.S. Open 2026 live updates
The match is part of the men’s round of 16 at Flushing Meadows. The same live report listed Shelton as the No. 8 seed and Tsitsipas as his opponent, while also recording straight-set wins for Frances Tiafoe and Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the day. It did not provide a completed score for Shelton and Tsitsipas in the supplied update.
How Shelton reached the fourth round
Shelton entered the match after defeating fellow left-hander Denis Shapovalov 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. The match began Friday and finished shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, after its start was delayed by Serena and Venus Williams’ three-hour doubles match. The New York Times: “Ben Shelton’s tennis gifts made him a contender”
That victory followed a difficult season at the biggest tournaments. The report says Shelton has won four titles in 2026, the most in a single season for him, but also suffered early exits at several major events, including two of the first three Grand Slams.
His Wimbledon campaign ended in the first round against Otto Virtanen. Shelton led 8-5 in the fifth-set tiebreak but lost 11-9. In discussing the match later, he identified mental lapses, below-par returning and poor point construction on break points as problems he needed to address. The New York Times: “Ben Shelton’s tennis gifts made him a contender”
The question around his next step
The New York Times report presents Shelton as a player whose natural strengths have taken him to the top level but who is still working to make his game more complete. At 23, he said he remains a “raw talent” and does not consider himself as refined as the players in the top 10.
The Shapovalov match reflected some of those inconsistencies. The first two sets included missed opportunities and fluctuating leads before Shelton settled more effectively into the contest in the third. Against Tsitsipas, the live coverage reported a much sharper opening stretch, including a strong first serve, aggressive returning and successful play at the net.
The latest verified state is that Shelton has won the first set of his round-of-16 match against Tsitsipas. A final match result is not established by the available reporting.