US Open: Ben Shelton is ready to carry American men's tennis out of the wilderness
American tennis player Ben Shelton is preparing for a pivotal US Open match that could end a 23-year drought for American men in Grand Slam singles titles. The article highlights his journey from college tennis to the professional stage and the high expectations surrounding his performance.
Why it matters
Winning a Grand Slam would be a significant milestone for American men's tennis, which has struggled to produce a major champion since Andy Roddick in 2003.
For 23 years, it has been the world's most annoying sports trivia question: Who's the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title?
Ben Shelton has always been the one with the ability to change it.
No disrespect to any of the others who have carried the red, white and blue banner for more than two decades across the men's tennis tour since Andy Roddick won his US Open title in 2003. John Isner served his way to millions of dollars and a few nice tournament wins. The likes of Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey did the best they could in the Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic era. Taylor Fritz has worked tirelessly to improve his game and continues to be a factor among the best players in the world.
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