The 20-year-old Ben Shelton is through to his second Major quarter-final of the season. Ben took down the fellow American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 48 minutes, avenging the Australian Open defeat and moving into the last eight. Clocking 16 aces and firing them 149 mp/h, Shelton took ten points more than his opponent and prevailed in the pivotal moments. Ben delivered five breaks from seven opportunities and saved 11 out of 14 break points to seal the deal in four sets. Shelton landed 36 winners and 46 unforced errors, and Paul added 25 direct points and 37 mistakes. The 14th seed made a flying start, breaking Shelton in game two and forging a 3-0 advantage. Tommy created four more break points in the fourth game, controlling the pace on the return so far. Ben denied them, surviving a challenging game and adding his name to the scoreboard.
Ben Shelton defeated Tommy Paul in four sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Shelton broke back in game five to reduce the deficit and erased three more break points in the next one to level the score at 3-3. They served well in games seven and eight, and Shelton delivered a decisive break at 4-4 to move in front. The young gun brought the set home in the tenth game with a hold at love for 6-4 and a boost. Ben saved break points at the start of the second set and took charge from game six. The 20-year-old rattled off four games, breaking Paul in games seven and nine to clinch the set 6-3 and build two sets to love advantage.
Shelton blasted one good serve after another at the start of the third set, delivering three holds at love and keeping the pressure on the other side. Ben took 12 out of 13 points from game three, earning a break and forging a 4-1 advantage. Tommy pulled the break back in game seven and held at 15 for 4-4. Paul clinched another break in game nine, taking a boost and closing the set on his serve in the next one to prolong his chances. They stayed neck and neck in the fourth set, with a break point wasted on each side in games one and six. Shelton held at love in game nine to move 5-4 in front and grabbed a crucial break a few minutes later to emerge at the top and book a place in the quarter-final.