Service did most of that. Shelton hit 12 aces to two, hit 72% of her first serves to 52% and won 84% of her first serve points and 70% of her second serve points, winning all 14 of her service games.
He broke four of six chances, hit 16 of 32 winners while committing six fewer unforced errors than his opponent and finished with 84 of 141 points. Tsitsipas, who served with more raw speed throughout the fortnight and averaged 199km/h on the first serve here, has won nine games.
Shelton’s best season yet puts him back in the last eight
The win was her 36th of 2026 and ninth in her last ten matches, and it took her to her sixth Grand Slam quarter-final. He is still searching for a first major final and he has chosen the tournament where his breakthrough has taken place since then.
Sunday was the first time in the tournament that no one made him wait, as it cost him three four-set matches to get here. He defeated Talon Grikspoor of the Netherlands 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2, losing the opening set, then Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, then Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (3), 6-4-3 (3), 6-4, 7 (3).
Tsitsipas’ exit closes the book on a one-way backhand
Tsitsipas, ranked 53rd and unseeded, put together the better of the two on paper, beating Czech No. 18 Jiri Lehecka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-1, South African Lloyd Harris 6-7 (1), 6-3 (4, 7- French), 6-3, 7-6 Files 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4. Two seeds in three matches, and then nothing to hit a server having the best night of the year.
His defeat sets up a piece of the story that has been building all season. With Tsitsipas out and the year-end major down to eight men, 2026 becomes the first year that no man with a one-handed backhand has reached a Grand Slam singles semifinal. Two weeks still puts him back in the top 50, around #43.
Alcaraz is next and Shelton is still undefeated
Shelton plays Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday. The Spanish No. 2 has beaten him in all three matches and is 13-0 against American opponents at Grand Slam level, a record that has stood this season after four-and-a-half months off the tour due to a wrist injury.
Sam Querrey asked Shelton in court what it would take. “Especially tennis. I think the level at which he plays is really impressive. To not play for five months and to come out and do what he’s done so far, this tournament was superhuman. We’re excited to have him back on tour. He lights up the stadium every time he plays. I think there will be fireworks on Tuesday night. I hope you’ll be ready to come back.”
US Open 2026, men’s singles, 4th round
A. Zverev (1) against L. Darderi (21) – Monday, Ash, 19:00 session
A. Gea (L) vs B. Van de Zandschulp – Monday, Grandstand, 16:30
K. Khachanov vs L. Thien (14) – Monday at Armstrong, 4 p.m
F. Cerundolo (24) vs A. Blockx (28) – Monday, Ashe Stadium, nb 13:00
F. Tiafoe (11) d. D. Medvedev (7): 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6)
A. Michelsen d. T. Etchveri (27): 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-4
B. Shelton (8) d. S. Tsitsipas: 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
C. Alcaraz (2) d. T. Paul (20): 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
