Shelton Survives Hurkacz Test to Reach US Open Third Round

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Ben Shelton advanced to the third round of the 2026 US Open after beating Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 on Wednesday night. The official US Open report lists Shelton among the leading American winners from Day 4 and describes a contest that shifted sharply after the American controlled the early stages. Shelton ultimately found the stronger finish on Arthur Ashe Stadium, closing a match shaped by two aggressive servers and very little margin for error.

What happened

Shelton took the opening set 6-3, but Hurkacz responded by winning the second 7-5 and forcing the match into a more uncertain phase. The third set reached a tiebreak, where Shelton separated himself by a 7-3 score, before the fourth remained tight deep into the set. Shelton then earned the decisive advantage to take it 7-5 and complete the four-set victory. According to the tournament's official account, Shelton said Hurkacz found another gear when the American was a set and a break ahead, turning a match that had felt under control into one that was suddenly up in the air.

Why it matters

The scoreline is significant because Hurkacz's serve can compress a match into a handful of points. Shelton did not need to dominate every stretch; he needed to stay composed through the momentum swing, protect the third-set tiebreak and create one late opening in the fourth. That is the kind of match management required at a major, where an opponent's best spell can erase an early lead quickly. The win also kept another prominent American in the draw on a productive day for the host nation.

Tournament impact

Shelton joined Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe, Alex Michelsen, Emma Navarro, Tommy Paul and several other home players who moved forward during Wednesday's singles schedule, the US Open reported. Pegula beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1, while Michelsen eliminated 16th seed Brandon Nakashima in straight sets. Shelton's victory carried a different texture: he had to absorb a response from a former world No. 6 and win both a tiebreak and a tight closing set.

What to watch

The next question is whether Shelton can reproduce the late-match clarity he showed against Hurkacz. His power gives him a direct route through service games, but this result offered evidence of resilience after control slipped away. As the draw narrows, return games and tiebreak execution become increasingly important, especially against opponents capable of protecting serve for long stretches. Those moments often decide whether a strong first week becomes a genuine run at a Grand Slam.

Source note

Match score, player comments and the wider Day 4 results are attributed to the official US Open tournament report published on September 2, 2026. The result was also reflected in September 3 coverage from The Guardian, which highlighted Shelton among the Americans advancing at Flushing Meadows.