In a thrilling third-round match at the US Open, Ben Shelton of the United States faced off against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match, which was delayed for three hours due to the conclusion of a women’s doubles match featuring tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, turned contentious as Shapovalov raised concerns about Shelton’s grunting during play.
The match was tightly contested, with both players showcasing their skills in a battle that saw them split the first two sets, each winning a set in tiebreaks. Shelton, currently ranked No. 9 in the world, then seized control in the third set, winning it 6-3 and taking an early lead in the fourth set at 2-0.
However, the match took a dramatic turn when Shapovalov, frustrated after losing a point during his service game, approached the chair umpire to express his concerns about Shelton’s grunts. He argued that the sounds made by Shelton were inconsistent and distracting, a complaint that was met with loud boos from the crowd, who were clearly in favor of the American player.
“So I can understand the grunt but the grunt is coming different every shot,” Shapovalov explained to the umpire, seeking clarification on the rules regarding player noise during matches. The umpire responded by stating that Shelton's grunts were not prolonged, which was a key factor in dismissing Shapovalov's complaint. Despite this, Shapovalov continued to argue that the inconsistency of the grunts was disruptive to his game.
The umpire reiterated, “He’s stopping very quickly,” indicating that Shelton’s grunting did not violate any regulations. Shapovalov, however, insisted that the variation in Shelton's grunts was notable, saying, “Hold on. On his service game, he didn’t grunt once and now on the last two, it’s like full power.”
As the match progressed, Shelton maintained his focus and composure, securing crucial breaks of serve that ultimately led him to a 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory after three hours and 22 minutes of intense competition. With this win, Shelton improved his head-to-head record against Shapovalov to a perfect 5-0.
Following this hard-fought victory, Ben Shelton is set to face No. 8 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round of the US Open. Tsitsipas advanced after defeating No. 18 seed Jiří Lehečka with a score of 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-1. In their previous encounter at the 2023 Cincinnati Open, Tsitsipas emerged victorious, giving him a 1-0 lead in their head-to-head matchups.
This match not only highlighted Shelton's growing prowess on the court but also underscored the ongoing debates surrounding player conduct and noise regulation in tennis, a topic that often stirs passionate reactions from players and fans alike.
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