U.S. Open Sees Record American Participants with Fritz and Shelton Excel

New York, Aug 25 (AP) The U.S. Open men's bracket showcases a significant American presence, the largest in the last 25 years. Among the notable participants are Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton, who marked the tournament's shift to a Sunday start with convincing victories.

Shelton, seeded sixth and a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, swiftly defeated Peru's Ignacio Buse in just over two hours, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. This inaugural match took place in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Fritz, holding the fourth seed and last year's runner-up to Jannik Sinner at Flushing Meadows, secured his spot in the next round with a straight-set win over fellow American Emilio Nava, a wild-card entrant, at Louis Armstrong Stadium. His match concluded in slightly under two hours with scores of 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

There are 23 American men competing, a figure not reached since 1997, underscoring the tournament's significance in the eyes of American players, as Fritz notes, "the most important tournament for us Americans all year." Additionally, 25 U.S. women are in contention, showcasing the country's ongoing strength in women's tennis.

"The competition among all of us pushes us to improve," Fritz remarked, as the men strive for America's first Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick's 2003 victory in New York.

However, the road to the trophy is daunting, with recent majors dominated by players like Jannik Sinner and world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who together have claimed the last seven titles. "As soon as you start looking ahead, you stumble," cautioned Shelton, who experienced exits at the hands of Sinner and Alcaraz in the recent Grand Slam rounds.

Shelton reflected on the U.S. Open as the "pinnacle of tennis" and actualized dreams of his youth by reaching the semifinals in 2023. Noteworthy moments in his match included an impressive forehand executed around the post, reminiscent of his idol Rafael Nadal.

Shelton and Fritz both demonstrated effective play at the net, with Shelton winning 26 out of 33 net points and saving five break points, while Fritz succeeded in 13 out of 14 net approaches, averting all four break points encountered. "My past performance here fuels my confidence," Fritz admitted. (AP)

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