US Open Third Round Clash
Ben Shelton Faces Denis Shapovalov in US Open Third Round Match
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Key Points
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Shelton has won 77.8% of his hard-court matches in 2026 and entered the tournament with a 33-13 record, compared with Shapovalov’s 14-17 mark. Shelton was also a 2023 U.S. Open semifinalist but reached only the third round in each of the past two editions.
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Shelton’s serve reached 148 mph against Hurkacz, the fastest serve he had hit in the tournament, and he remained unbeaten in tiebreaks through his first two rounds.
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Their four previous meetings have come on three different surfaces—grass, outdoor hard court and indoor hard court—and Shelton won the latest, a Dallas semifinal in February, after Shapovalov took the opening set 6-4.
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Shapovalov’s first-round win over Miomir Kecmanovic included 19 aces and 11 double faults, while his second-round victory over Luca Van Assche was much cleaner: he converted seven of nine break points and won 6-0, 6-4, 7-6(5).
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The match is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:10 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN2, and betting markets listed Shelton as a substantial favorite, with winner payouts of 1.23x for Shelton and 3.84x for Shapovalov.
Ben Shelton will face Denis Shapovalov in the U.S. Open third round Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the match airing on ESPN2 starting at approximately 8:10 p.m. Eastern Time. SofaScore reports that Shelton, the ninth-ranked American, has advanced with two four-set victories, while Shapovalov beat Luca Van Assche in straight sets after a four-set win over Miomir Kecmanovic.
Shelton leads their head-to-head series 4-0 and enters as a heavy favorite with a 33-13 record on the year and a 77.8% hard-court win rate. Robinhood lists Shelton with 1.23x payout odds compared to Shapovalov's 3.84x, reflecting the American's stronger 2026 form and dominance in their previous meetings.
Shelton's Serve Power and Tiebreak Dominance
Shelton's game has been built around a devastating serve at the U.S. Open. His fastest serve reached 148 mph against Hubert Hurkacz, the quickest of the tournament so far. SofaScore reports he remained unbeaten in tiebreaks through his first two rounds, a crucial advantage against a crafty competitor like Shapovalov.
Shapovalov's Inconsistent But Improving Form
Shapovalov's path has been far more erratic. SofaScore notes his first-round victory over Kecmanovic included 19 aces but also 11 double faults—a sign of inconsistency. His second-round win over Van Assche was much cleaner: he converted seven of nine break points and won 6-0, 6-4, 7-6(5).
A Rivalry Built Across Multiple Surfaces
Their four previous meetings have come on grass, outdoor hard court, and indoor hard court. Shelton won the most recent clash—a Dallas semifinal in February—after Shapovalov took the opening set 6-4. That competitive opening suggests the Canadian can trouble Shelton early, making a straight-set victory far from certain despite the betting markets.
Why Shelton Remains the Clear Favorite
Shelton's overall 2026 season has been dominant, and his serve presents a massive matchup problem for Shapovalov's one-handed backhand. SofaScore confirms he was a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2023 but has reached only the third round in each of the past two years, meaning he's hungry to push deeper into this tournament.
Sentiment
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Publishers
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Articles
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Reach
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