The US Open was filled with drama as injuries and upsets shook the tournament. American player Ben Shelton‘s campaign ended in tears when he was forced to withdraw from his match against Adrian Mannarino due to a shoulder injury he described as the “worst pain” of his life. Shelton’s fellow American, Frances Tiafoe, also faced an early exit, losing to Jan-Lennard Struff. Meanwhile, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Aryna Sabalenka both advanced to the next round, though Alcaraz had to overcome his own injury scare.
Records Set and Hopes Dashed
While the younger generation grappled with challenges, 38-year-old Novak Djokovic continued to make history. The Serb battled through a back problem to defeat Cameron Norrie, becoming the oldest man to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows since 1991. He also surpassed Roger Federer for the most hardcourt victories at the majors. In the women’s draw, British hopes ended as Emma Raducanu was defeated by Elena Rybakina, and Taylor Townsend scored a major upset by beating fifth seed Mirra Andreeva.
A New Chapter for American Tennis
Despite the setbacks for Shelton and Tiafoe, American tennis still has a strong presence in the tournament. Taylor Fritz became the only American man to reach the fourth round with a gritty victory, and Tommy Paul is also set to compete for a spot in the next round.
