Ben Shelton’s fantastic run in Flushing Meadows is over.
Novak Djokovic’s march toward tennis history is still going – and just one more win away from the all-time GOAT crown.
Djokovic handed the young American a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 (4) U.S. Open semifinal lesson in the finer points of championship tennis, being ready from the first point to the last.
The second-ranked Serb already has 23 Grand Slam titles, the most ever for a man and just one shy of tying Margaret Court for the all-time mark.
He’ll get that chance in Sunday’s final against the winner of Friday night’s Carlos Alcaraz-Danil Medvedev tilt.
That was the second semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but make no mistake, Djokovic against Shelton was the headliner people tuned in for.
Shelton came in with the big serve and even bigger megawatt smile, just 20 years old and unseeded at this U.S. Open.
He’s been aggressive, athletic and fearless.
His 149 mph serve and 76 aces both led the tournament by a wide margin and powered him past fellow Americans Tommy Paul and Francis Tiafoe in the prior two rounds.
With Andy Roddick watching on — the last American man to win in Flushing Meadows 20 years ago — all of those things were on display on Friday.
But not until the third set, when it was too little too late.
Djokovic was a step or three up in class, and contributed greatly to the young American’s 43 unforced errors.
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