Ben Shelton Optimistic of Ending the American Grand Slam Drought Alongside Taylor Fritz

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz have enjoyed their best Grand Slam runs at the US Open.

Ben Shelton Optimistic of Ending the American Grand Slam Drought Alongside Taylor Fritz

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz (via The Laver Cup)

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Ben Shelton is set to face compatriot Taylor Fritz in the semifinals of the Canadian Open. The left-hander will be eyeing his first Masters 1000 final, whereas Fritz will be eyeing a second Masters 1000 title of his career after earlier success at Indian Wells 2022.

Although both players would want to win, they do have a common goal i.e. putting the American tennis back on the map. Shelton believes that both have the game to win the Grand Slam. He said in the press conference:

I am excited to face him at such an advanced stage. I know he excels in important matches and has been the great icon of American tennis for years. We are good friends, and I am convinced that one of us will win a Grand Slam. American tennis is in a great moment.

It has been 22 years since an American won a Grand Slam. It was Andy Roddick, who triumphed over Juan Carlos Ferrero to register his only Grand Slam title. Since then, only Fritz has been able to come close, reaching the US Open final last year. Shelton has also had success at Flushing Meadows, reaching the semifinals in 2023.

Ben Shelton defeats Alex de Minaur

American sensation Ben Shelton arrived in Toronto with a 24-23 record at the Masters 1000 level. He improved his tally by reaching his first semi-final at this event. In the quarter-finals, Shelton faced Alex de Minaur and won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, in an hour and 31 minutes. De Minaur struggled with his serve, hitting only 53% of his first serves and losing 42% of the points on his serve. He faced five break points and was broken three times during the match.

Ben Shelton (2)
Ben Shelton (Image via X/Joao Fonseca Updates)

Shelton, on the other hand, lost only 19 points in ten service games, dropping serve once. He also dominated in service winners, with a 27-11 advantage. From the baseline, Shelton outplayed de Minaur, although the Aussie had the upper hand at the net. Shelton made almost 30 mistakes from de Minaur, primarily from the backhand side. Both players were competitive in the longer rallies, but Shelton gained an edge in the shorter ones.

In the first set, Shelton faced a break point in the opening game but saved it with a powerful serve. De Minaur also fought off two break points in the fourth game. However, Shelton broke de Minaur’s serve in the sixth game, and despite some resistance, he closed out the first set 6-3 with a forehand winner at the net. The set lasted 45 minutes, with Shelton capitalizing on de Minaur’s mistakes.

In the second set, Shelton broke de Minaur early and maintained control. De Minaur briefly responded by breaking Shelton’s serve, but he couldn’t capitalize. Shelton broke again to lead 4-2 and then served for the match at 5-3. He held serve at love in the final game, sealing the victory with an unreturned serve and setting up a semi-final clash with Taylor Fritz.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz make history ahead of the US Open

Taylor Fritz, currently ranked No. 4, and Ben Shelton, No. 7, will face off in the semifinals of the Canadian Open. This marks the first time since 2010 that two Americans will meet in an ATP Masters 1000 final four, with Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick being the last pair to do so at Cincinnati.

Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (Image via X/Dexerto)

Both players secured straight-set victories to reach this stage. Fritz defeated Andrey Rublev, while Shelton triumphed over Alex de Minaur. Shelton’s win was particularly notable as it impacts the ATP Rankings, potentially affecting the U.S. Open seedings. With his Toronto win, Shelton is now just 410 points behind sixth-seeded Novak Djokovic, who won’t compete until the U.S. Open.

The victory also marked Shelton’s first ATP 1000 semifinal appearance. Although he reached the final four at the 2025 Australian Open and 2023 U.S. Open, this is his first ATP 1000-level milestone. The 22-year-old is excited about facing Fritz for a chance to claim his first ATP title.

For Fritz, his victory nearly guarantees his spot as a top-four seed in the U.S. Open. A strong performance in Toronto could push him into the top three, while another deep run at Cincinnati next week would further secure his position. With his recent success, including a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon and two ATP titles, Fritz is looking to build on his momentum and perhaps secure his first major at the U.S. Open.

Also Read: Naomi Osaka Shares How Amanda Anisimova Behaved with Her Three Years Ago After Grand Slam Upset