Frances Tiafoe is into the second week of the US Open after outlasting Ben Shelton 4-6 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3.
The 20th seed came back from two sets to one defeat last year’s semi-finalist in an entertaining five set match.
Now Tiafoe is into the second week and will play either Novak Djokovic or Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin.
The match started at an electric pace with both players serving efficiently with Tiafoe continuing where he left off in Cincinnati, where he reached the final.
However the first break went to Shelton as he did damage with his dynamic forehand and converted his first break point for a 3-1 lead.
In this match no lead was safe and that was the case in the opening set as Tiafoe looked for an immediate break back.
Some clutch serving mixed with lightning quick athleticism saw Shelton hold off the returning pressure from Tiafoe.
Eventually Tiafoe would eventually break as the backhand from the world number 20 did maximum amount of damage with Shelton being unable to close the set out at 5-3.
There was no lapse in concentration from Shelton as he continued to stick with the strategy and broke back to claim the opening set 6-4.
In the second set there was no doubting who was the more proactive and better play as Tiafoe was utterly dominant on return.
Shelton was wasteful on his return and never really got into Tiafoe’s service games.
However Tiafoe lacked a clinical edge on return with Shelton doing well to mix up his serving patterns.
It took Tiafoe nine break points but eventually Tiafoe took the crucial lead at 6-5 and reenergised the Arthur Ashe Stadium before holding to love to level the match at one set all.
Despite taking the second set, Tiafoe remained wasteful on break points with this match perfectly poised in the third set.
Both players had their flaws but also strengthened the best parts of their game.
There was some incredible improvisation from Shelton on the forehand side as he saved three break points at the start of the set.
Meanwhile there was some incredible backhands on the run from Tiafoe but a double fault from the Cincinnati finalist gave Shelton a 5-3 lead.
Fortunately for Tiafoe, Shelton returned the favour as a double fault gave Tiafoe the break back and just like last year this third set was heading to a tiebreak.
Just like this match, it was astonishing tiebreak as Shelton came out of the gates super quick and stormed to a 6-0 lead with this tiebreak seemingly heading to the 13th seed.
However point by point Shelton felt the pressure and Tiafoe saved five of the set points he faced.
Luckily for Shelton he still had a 143MPH serve up his sleeve as he destroyed it down the T to seal a two set to one lead.
The fourth set saw Shelton’s momentum nullified as he was unable to capitalize on a good first couple of points.
Tiafoe was able to ride the early wave of momentum and was the player who was more proactive and aggressive.
The 20th seed was patient and waited for the right opportunity to strike and that’s what he did in the tenth game.
A few unforced errors from Shelton allowed Tiafoe to create three set points and another missed backhand from Shelton allowed Tiafoe to let out a massive roar as this match was going all the way to five sets.
At the start of the fifth set, Shelton had chances to break Tiafoe but the 13th seed was once again wasteful as his returning weaknesses were exposed.
When Tiafoe had the chance to break, he showed no signs of producing those weaknesses as he crushed the forehand and finished with a smash winner to break and consolidate in order to take a 4-1 lead.
There was a last attempt from Shelton to put pressure on Tiafoe but ultimately it was the 20th seed who came out on top in this US Open classic.
Shelton will regret those unforced errors and missed returns but ultimately it was Tiafoe who created the more chances on return.
Now Tiafoe will take on Novak Djokovic or Alexei Popyrin in the last 16 on Sunday.
