In a thrilling tennis match, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe captivated the crowd with their dynamic play. Shelton initially took the lead with a 4-1 advantage after a rally where Tiafoe touched the net, conceding the point. Shelton continued to dazzle with his athleticism, including a leaping backhand smash and a cross-court forehand winner that drew gasps from the audience.
However, Tiafoe fought back in the second set. Despite Shelton holding serve from 0-40 down in consecutive games, Tiafoe broke Shelton's serve at 5-5 and took the set, leveling the match. The third set was tightly contested, leading to a tiebreak where Shelton surged to a 6-0 lead. Tiafoe battled back to 6-5, but Shelton secured the set with a powerful 143 mph ace, the fastest of the tournament.
The fourth set was another close contest, with Tiafoe pulling ahead at the crucial moment. Up 5-4, Tiafoe pressured Shelton into making an unforced error, forcing a fifth set. In the final set, Shelton faltered, making errors in an attempt to go big with his shots. Tiafoe capitalized, breaking Shelton's serve and taking a 4-1 lead. Tiafoe maintained his composure, winning the match on his second match point with a deft volley, marking his first victory over Shelton. The two embraced at the net in a show of sportsmanship.
Tiafoe, part of a determined American group aiming to end a 21-year men's major title drought, moves on to the next round. Meanwhile, fellow American Taylor Fritz also advanced, defeating Argentine Francisco Comesana. Fritz, the 12th seed, delivered 33 winners and became the first American man since Andre Agassi in 2003 to reach the fourth round of all Grand Slam tournaments in a single year.
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