Big Man on Campus: Ben Shelton books box office US Open clash with Frances Tiafoe

NEW YORK—Some things seem almost too good to be true. Airline flights that depart on time. An unexpected tax refund check from the IRS. Clear instructions for assembling that mail-order etagere.

And then there’s Ben Shelton.

The 21-year old, curly-headed Georgian is a generational talent, a purpose-built tennis prodigy, both deft-handed and left-handed. Shelton pursues his profession with the aplomb of a seasoned champion, the sophistication of a student of the game, and the exuberance of a golden retriever happy to play fetch with a tennis ball all day.

The only thing missing is the portfolio of Grand Slam titles that he appears destined to own in the near future.

Shelton’s extravagant talents were on abundant display again at the US Open on this torrid Wednesday afternoon. He powered his way into the third round of the tournament with an artful battering of Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in a swift two hours and eight entertaining minutes. Shelton next gets to trade forehand blasts—and collegial trash talk—with his good friend Frances Tiafoe. It will be the match-up of the tournament so far.

Where do you start in evaluating Shelton’s game and personality? He’s a spectacular athlete who stands 6-foot-4 yet is as nimble as a ballet dancer. He’s even quicker now than he was a year ago, when he reached the semifinals here in just his fourth Grand Slam main draw appearance. The other day, after his first-round win over Dominic Thiem, Shelton said he’s lost “a few pounds” over the past eight months. He feels his movement, always outstanding for a man of his size, has improved.

“When you think about longevity out here on the tour, carrying a lot of weight can be a negative,” he said. “But it’s obviously a positive [when it comes to] power.”

Shelton needn’t worry about any decline in power. He makes it in abundance, and makes the most of the southpaw’s natural advantage.  His serve is a bazooka, and his forehand can be devastating. But he’s left the bread-and-butter big game behind, much the same way as Carlos Alcaraz. Shelton is the most creative big man the game has coughed up in a long, long time.

“I’m trying to mix it up as much as possible,” Shelton said of the state of his game shortly before the tournament began. He believes that with his punishing serve, changing the rhythm of how he plays points can be even more effective. He doesn’t want to spend his matches engaged in brutal, exhausting rallies.

“There are so many baseline battles [now], and you just see guys ripping from the baseline,” he said. “Everybody, forehand and backhand, hits the ball unbelievable. . . I think that coming into net and being a great net player is a way that you can make things easier on yourself, shorten points. At a Grand Slam, where you're playing five sets, it helps a lot being able to hold serve more quickly. I think it's an advantage.”

That’s a refined bit of analysis that owes a debt to Shelton’s father Bryan, who had a fruitful career as an ATP pro. The court surfaces were much faster in Bryan’s day, so much so he basically attacked the net behind every serve. The lesson wasn’t lost on Ben, and just to make sure, Bryan is there to provide reminders.

“If I'm not mixing in serve and volley,” Ben said. “He’s  kind of asking why I'm not mixing it in.”

Shelton has come a long way in a very short time. Among other highlights, Shelton was the youngest (19 years) American to earn a Top Five win since Andy Roddick. Last year, he became the youngest American man in the US Open semifinals since Michael Chang in 1992. Yet Shelton seems immune to the pressure that often accompanies prodigy.

Despite his imposing size, Shelton is more teddy bear than grizzly bear. When a reporter observed that he appears “shredded” this year, he replied, “Thanks, my bro.” At Roland Garros this year, a number of players complained bitterly about hyper-partisan French fans who made their lives miserable. Not Shelton:

“This is the first time I came out to a tennis match and had a band playing in the stands on my court,” he said, after dispatching Frenchman Hugo Gaston. “That was pretty special…I got a lot of heckling when I was in college tennis, but today the crowd was just loud, chanting, supporting of their countryman. It's something that you love to see.”

These are the types of matches that I love, that I live for. . .I know that the people love him here. Probably more than me. He's electric, and his crowds are electric here. It will be a war just like the last two times we've played. Yeah, I'm more than excited to be out there with him again. Ben Shelton on facing Frances Tiafoe

Shelton plays with a hand as free as his spirit. Like any player who can take the racquet out of an opponent’s hand, he can modulate his game. He navigates situations as if by instinct rather than intent. Best of all, perhaps, his natural response to either a threat or an opportunity is to elevate his game. To play with greater rather than less risk.

That quality was on full display when it came time to close out Bautista Agut after a third set spent mostly treading water. Shelton dialed up the pressure with the score at 4-all to reach break point. There followed an intense rally ending when, with a remarkable burst of speed and nimble footwork, Shelton ran around his backhand to blast a massive inside-out forehand winner.

Serving for the match, Shelton delivered an unreturnable serve, an ace, and a delicate forehand volley winner behind an off-pace forehand approach shot. He closed the deal with an ace.

So, it’s on to a meeting with Tiafoe, who said of the pending battle: “You know, he's (Ben) very much like me in how excited and energetic he is on the court.  He has such a big game, and big shots and (he) serves big and gets the crowd going.”

Shelton won both of their previous meetings, most recently in the quarterfinals here at Flushing Meadow last year. He’s no less keen for the upcoming one.

“I'm excited,” he said. “These are the types of matches that I love, that I live for. . .I know that the people love him here. Probably more than me. He's electric, and his crowds are electric here. It will be a war just like the last two times we've played. Yeah, I'm more than excited to be out there with him again.”