Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are set for an all-American showdown as they go head-to-head in the US Open.
Tiafoe says an American can win this year’s US Open, but he must now make it past compatriot Shelton in round three.
American men’s players have shone in the build-up to the fourth and final major of the season at Flushing Meadows.
Tiafoe has progress this far after beating fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic and Kazakhstani Alexander Shevchenko in rounds one and two respectively.
Shelton meanwhile knocked out 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem in round one, before overcoming another veteran in Roberto Bautista Agut in round two.
Tennis fans angry with Ben Shelton vs Frances Tiafoe US Open match time
Their fantastic runs have now set up a highly-anticipated match-up at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but fans are angry at the game being scheduled for the day instead of the night.
Shocked by the scheduling, one tennis fan wrote on X: “That deserves to be at Ashe during prime time,” with a second saying: “Ideally should have been swapped with Popyrin-Djokovic.”
Journalists Jose Morgado and Ben Rothenberg also shared their thoughts, with the former writing: “I’m *shocked* Tiafoe vs. Shelton isn’t the night match on Ashe tomorrow. Wow…”
The latter meanwhile said: “Putting Shelton-Tiafoe in the day session is a pretty wild choice by the US Open for tomorrow’s schedule.”
Another tennis fan wrote: “Agreed completely – pretty silly but I’m sure it has something to do with Djokovic not wanting to play day matches with his knee bc of the higher temps and humidity levels.”
And another said: “Apparently Djokovic didn’t want to play during the day. Shelton and Tiafoe would have been the right choice.”
Novak Djokovic gets another night time US Open match
The heat and humidity have been playing major roles in New York, with Tiafoe and Shelton perhaps glad they are playing earlier in the day.
Djokovic wants more early night matches, with that wish granted for his third round meeting with Alexei Popyrin at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Coco Gauff versus Elina Svitolina was scheduled first at the iconic US Open court, followed by Shelton and Tiafoe.
Leading the night session are Djokovic and Popyrin, with that clash set to be followed by Aryna Sabalenka’s meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The all-American clash between Shelton and Tiafoe should get the crowd going, in what is a repeat of last year’s quarter-final, which the former won.
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