Tag: US Open

PHOTOS: Highlights from Ben Shelton’s U.S. Open semifinal loss

Novak Djokovic ultimately proved too much for the young former Gator, but time is on Ben Shelton’s side.

Former Florida tennis standout [autotag]Ben Shelton[/autotag]’s magical run at the 2023 U.S. Open held in Flushing, New York, came to an end on Friday with a semifinal loss to one of the best to ever play the game: Novak Djokovic.

The 20-year-old Gator fell to his opponent in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4), after becoming the youngest American man in the U.S. Open semifinals since Michael Chang in 1992 to reach the semis. However, Shelton was simply overwhelmed by a superior opponent and despite pushing hard in the final set, he took the defeat.

Djokovic vs. Shelton was a mismatch coming into Friday’s affair as the former was participating in his record 47th Slam semifinal and his 100th US Open match, while the latter was ranked 47th and in only his seventh career match at the Open.

Below are highlights from Ben Shelton’s disappointing loss in the U.S. Open semifinals against Novak Djokovic.

 

 

Ben Shelton is an absolute star and American tennis is lucky to have him

Ben Shelton just played his best match yet, but he’ll need more for Djokovic

This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Mike Sykes.

Ben Shelton has arrived, folks. And he wants you to know it, too. A star has been born.

He’s loud. He’s brash. He’s plucky. He’s confident, but also a bit cocky. He’s got tons of energy and celebrations to go along with that. But he’s got a monster serve that regularly tops 140 mph to back all of that up.

On Tuesday, I told you all the men’s side of American tennis finally had a chance to finally make some noise after 20 years. Shelton did just that in his primetime matchup against No. 10 ranked Frances Tiafoe.

It was an absolute gem of a match that included one of the wildest third sets I’ve seen in years. The two took turns breaking each other’s serves and gave us an absolute epic of a tiebreaker that looked like it was going to go Tiafoe’s way.

Until Shelton did this.

Granted, that’s not the greatest serve from Tiafoe. But that’s still an incredibly impressive return from Shelton. He just kept painting the corners of the court with that big lefty forehand of his. Those aren’t shots people are supposed to be able to hit — Tiafoe said it himself. Yet, here Shelton is. Crushing them. On the biggest stage of his young career.

This is it, y’all. Shelton could be that guy. He’s the youngest American player on the men’s side to reach the semifinals of the US Open since 1992. That’s 31 years, y’all. That’s history.

This time last year he’d just made the jump to turning pro after a 65-10 stint through two years of tennis at the University of Florida. Now, he’s headed to the US Open semifinals to play Novak Djokovic — the only person left standing in the way of him making his very first Grand Slam final debut.

Have yourself a game, Ben Shelton.

The MVP race in the WNBA is WILD

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve seen some pretty tight MVP races across sports in recent years, but what we’re seeing right now between Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas is getting pretty ridiculous.

It’s like the three of them are making history every single time they touch the court at this point and it’s the final week of the WNBA season. Just last night, two of the three did something we’ve never seen before.

A’ja Wilson didn’t play last night, but if she did I’m absolutely certain she would’ve dropped 60 points or something crazy. Just for good measure.

There’s not a wrong pick between this trio. Maybe it comes down to the team record for you. Is the MVP the best player on the best team? That would be A’ja Wilson. Maybe it’s the player who raises her team’s talent the most. I’d say that’d be Alyssa Thomas. Maybe it’s just the best player overall. Most would say that’s Breanna Stewart.

I don’t know who is going to win it between these three. All I can tell you is I’m glad I don’t have a vote.

Some Travis Hunter Heisman fodder

Travis Hunter is picking himself for the Heisman trophy and I can’t blame him. He’s absolutely right. FTW’s Prince Grimes has more from Hunter here.

“It was an Aug. 5 Instagram post, and alongside a photo of himself in full uniform, Hunter posted a caption that simply read, “HEISMAN LOADING…”

“He doubled-down a few weeks later, in the first episode of his live Bleacher Report show, 12 Talks, listing himself first in a ranking of Heisman candidates for the new season: “Both sides of the ball. I’m going for it all,” Hunter said. ‘Gots to. Sophomore year. Like I said on Instagram, Heisman loading. That’s my goal.’,”

Normally, it just feels a bit too brash to see someone picking themselves for the Heisman like this. Especially this early in the season. But after Hunter’s game? It sort of feels warranted. The dude was that good in week one for Colorado with his two-way dominance.

He had 11 receptions for 119 yards and an interception. That just doesn’t happen very often. Chris Gamble (2002) was the last player to have at least 20 receptions and three interceptions in a season.

But can he keep this up? Here’s a wild stat for you: Hunter played in 144 snaps on Saturday, per Pro Football Focus. He’s on pace for 1,728. That number just doesn’t seem sustainable.

If he somehow finds a way to push through, though, that Heisman is undoubtedly his. He’s absolutely right.

Quick Hits: Are we sure about this Sean Payton and Russell Wilson thing? … College football’s pettiest moments … and more

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

— Sean Payton used footage of a car driving off a cliff to describe Russell Wilson’s first season with the Broncos and all I can think about is how hilarious this is. Robert Zeglinski has more. They’re definitely going to bump heads in Denver, aren’t they?

— Cory Woodruff ranked the pettiest moments from college football in week one. Y’all know what number one is.

— Prince Grimes is saving your fantasy draft with five players to target after Travis Kelce’s injury.

— Chris Mortensen announced his retirement from ESPN on Tuesday. Happy trails, Mort! Get well soon.

That’s all, folks. Happy Wednesday! Be kind to one another. Let’s chat again tomorrow.

PHOTOS: Highlights from Ben Shelton’s U.S. Open upset quarterfinal win

With the win, Shelton now faces Novak Djokovic on Friday in the semifinals.

Former Florida tennis standout [autotag]Ben Shelton[/autotag] continued his magical run at the 2023 U.S. Open held in Flushing, New York, on Tuesday with a quarterfinal win over fellow American, Frances Tiafoe. The 20-year-old Gator outlasted his opponent, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, to become the youngest American man in the U.S. Open semifinals since Michael Chang in 1992.

Tiafoe seemed to have early jitters playing such a hyped-up match despite being the higher-seeded and more experienced player; Shelton, on the other hand, had the benefit of lower expectations against his 25-year-old opponent. The former finished with 14 aces but 11 double faults in a back-and-forth match that featured big hits and equally big misses while the latter’s serve started to waver as the game wore on.

Nonetheless, the 2022 NCAA champion outlasted his fellow countryman and earned a trip to the next round. In the semifinals, the great Novak Djokovic who is seeded second in the tournament awaits the young up-and-comer.

In the meantime, take a look below at highlights from Shelton’s U.S. Open quarterfinals win on Tuesday.

WATCH: Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic imitates Travis Kelce at U.S. Open

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic imitated #Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after winning his match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday.

Travis Kelce’s iconic homage to classic Beastie Boys diddy Fight For Your Right has officially gone mainstream in the sports scene after tennis superstar Novak Djokovic imitated the Kansas City Chiefs tight end on Tuesday at the U.S. Open.

After Djokovic’s win against Taylor Fritz that sent him to the Open’s semifinals, the beloved tennis legend took to the microphone to tell fans exactly what they need to do if they intend to party.

A clip of the affair was posted by the U.S. Open’s official Twitter account, which made an obligatory reference to Kelce, who has popularized the lyric in contemporary times.

While Djokovic’s delivery of the line was received with a bit less enthusiasm by the crowd in attendance at the U.S.T.A Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, his gusto in delivery was up to Kelce’s standard.

The three-time U.S. Open winner may get his chance to see Kelce in action on Thursday when the Chiefs face the Detroit Lions for the first game of the NFL’s 2023 regular season.

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21 celebrities who showed up to watch the 2023 US Open, including Aaron Rodgers

The celebrities were out in full force at the 2023 US Open in Queens.

It’s once again time for the US Open, the premier tennis tournament in the United States. As the last leg of the Grand Slam, all eyes will be on Queens, New York as the biggest storylines in the tennis world unfold before our very eyes.

Plus, of course, it’s also a hotbed of celebrity activity, as stars from all over descend on New York to take in the historic tournament. Many high profile names have attended the tournament in the past. Most recently, stars flocked to Serena Williams’ likely final US Open appearance last year in support of the tennis great.

From Aaron Rodgers to the Obamas, here are the biggest celebrities who made appearances at the 2023 US Open.

PHOTOS: Highlights from Ben Shelton’s U.S. Open win on Sunday

Get a glimpse of what former Gator Ben Shelton was up to on Sunday at the U. S. Open.

Former Florida tennis standout Ben Shelton put up a stellar performance on Sunday against Tommy Paul on Day 7 of the 2023 U.S. Open held in Flushing, New York. Armed with his vicious power serve, the 20-year-old earned a trip to the quarterfinals thanks to a five-set victory over Paul (6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4).

The two had tangled before at the Australian Open at the start of the year, with Shelton taking the four-set defeat despite being up 4-1 in the third. The Gator alumnus credits the increased mental tenacity developed from that failure as the source of his success.

“I learned to be mentally tough,” Shelton told Eurosport. “When I was playing in Australia after a long week I was looking at my box saying ‘My legs are dead, I am tired, I can’t go anymore’. I realized how important it is to believe in myself. That I can go the full way emotionally and physically and now I have that belief here.”

Shelton’s serve topped out at 149 mph in the third set — good enough for an ace — and has been clocked in the upper 140s during his time in Flushing. He will face Frances Tiafoe on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

In the meantime, take a look below at highlights from Shelton’s big U.S. Open win on Sunday against Tommy Paul on Day 7 of hardcourt action.

 

 

Coco Gauff reveals she learned her competitive mentality from US Open supporter Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler has truly helped inspire tennis star Coco Gauff.

While competing at the US Open this year, Coco Gauff has had the support of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Gauff, who is ranked No. 6 in the official women’s tennis rankings, has won both of her matches during the opening rounds of the US Open tournament in New York. The 19-year-old Gauff won her most recent match against Mirra Andreeva in straight sets.

She is already off to a much better start at the US Open than she had at Wimbledon in London earlier this summer when she was eliminated in the first round by Sofia Kenin.

According to Gauff, recently crowned champion at both the Washington Open and the Western & Southern Open, it is mostly a mentality change that has contributed to her winning ways. Gauff said that so much of that mindset was actually inspired by Butler (via NY Daily News):

“That switch I had in the last couple weeks. people think some incredible thing happened,” the sixth-seeded Gauff said. “But realistically, the two weeks between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that’s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years.”

Butler is celebrated for his wildly competitive approach on the court, so he is a perfect person to help Gauff channel her mental tenacity.

RELATED: Jimmy Butler says ‘I’m just a sweetheart until you poke the bear and we’re competing’

While attending the US Open this week, Butler was asked about his friendship with Gauff (via ESPN):

“She is so emotional, in a good way, and she is a champion and I love that she is from the city that I work in and I love to be here and support her and I want her to win every single time.”

Butler, who stole the show at the Stars of the Open Exhibition Match to Benefit Ukraine Relief last week, was seen in the stands looking ultra-focused while Gauff competed on the court.

Earlier this year, when he spoke to For The Win, the Heat star said that tennis was tied with basketball for his “second-favorite” sport.

As he continues to show his support to Gauff, hopefully, it can help inspire her to keep playing well under the bright lights of the US Open.

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Venus Williams looks like she may be done, but don’t count her out just yet

Venus Williams should never leave tennis. Plus, thoughts on Jonathan Taylor’s sticky situation.

This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Mike Sykes.

Watching Venus Williams lose in the US Open was hard. It’s something that I’ll simply never be used to.

Williams has won 79 percent of her games at Flushing Meadows and played in more of these tournaments than anyone. That’s why it was so weird watching her barely be able to compete in her 100th US Open match against Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen on Tuesday.

Williams lost to Minnen 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the tournament. It was the most lopsided defeat of her career, according to ESPN. Of course, the knee injury she suffered at Wimbledon has been hampering her throughout the summer. But still, this was just painful to watch.

Naturally, people brought up retirement as an option for Williams here. When asked about playing for the rest of the year, Williams said, “I don’t know what I’ll do this fall. Definitely too soon to say.”

Maybe this is it. Maybe this is the end of the Williams era. Obviously, Serena has already retired. It’s too soon to say Venus will, but it seems like she could be next.

If she is finished, it’s been a pretty great run.

Between Venus and Serena Williams are 30 Grand Slam singles titles (with Venus holding seven of them), 14 doubles titles, and hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money from the wins they’ve both racked up.

Bigger than all of that, though, is the legacy they’ve both created in real-time. That legacy lies in every little Black girl who watched these two play tennis and thought, “Maybe I can do that someday, too.”

We don’t get Coco Gauff without getting Venus and Serena. We don’t get Naomi Osaka without them. Sloane Stephens. The list goes on and on and on. Tennis just isn’t the same game if they don’t run through it the way they did. I’ll forever be grateful for their presence here. We should all be.

That’s why, selfishly, I hope this isn’t it. I hope there’s enough gas in the tank for Venus to keep going. Not just for one last big run, but forever. The game just won’t be the same without her. So I hope she never leaves.

The clock ticks for the Colts

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The only place Jonathan Taylor was moved on Tuesday was to the Colts’ Physically Unable to Perform list.

That’s certainly not what he was expecting when he demanded a trade a few weeks back in his search for a contract extension. That trade never came, though. The Colts had until Tuesday at 4 p.m. to move Taylor before he officially hit the PUP list and couldn’t make it happen.

RELATED: Jonathan Taylor’s status has huge fantasy football implications.

That’s not surprising at all, though, considering the circumstances. On one hand, Jim Irsay is telling the world that Taylor doesn’t matter, but also that he wants first-round pick value back for him. Somebody make it make sense.

This isn’t over, though. This trade can still happen. In the end, that 4 p.m. deadline was a self-imposed Colts deadline. Sure, Taylor will still be on the PUP list if he’s traded. But the NFL’s true trade deadline isn’t until October 31. A deal can still be done between now and then.

Buckle in, folks. We’re in for a bumpy ride.

You need to see …

The front page of the Daily Tarheel following the school shooting at the University of North Carolina.

UNC was locked down for three hours with an active shooter on campus. The student-staffers of the Daily Tar Heel collected texts sent throughout those three hours and put them on the front page to show us just how horrifying this is.

I have no other words to say. Just look at this.

Warning: There’s some NSFW language in this tweet.

Students should not have to go through this. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about this. Enough already.

Quick Hits: The Angels are done … Nepotism is dead (for one day) … and more

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

— The Angels are finally waiving the white flag on their season with a slew of roster cuts that came out of nowhere on Tuesday. There’s no way Ohtani is coming back now, right? Cory Woodruff has more.

— Doug Pederson cut his son from the Jacksonville Jaguars, showing us that nepotism doesn’t always win. At least, not today, anyway. Charles Curtis has more.

— Aaron Rodgers mic’d up is always a treat. Here he is telling a dude he’s never heard of him before then throwing a touchdown. GOATed.

— For all of you Star Wars nerds out there, our Mitchell Northam has you covered on Tuesday night’s action from Ahsoka. Tap in.

That’s all, folks. Happy Wednesday.