5th September, 2023
Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, two African Americans will slug it out at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The showdown between the duo marks the first time in 15 years – since James Blake played Donald Young in the 2008 first round – that two Black American men will face off in the world’s largest tennis venue.
They will also be playing in a stadium named after an African American icon, who fought for racial equality.
Tuesday’s contest will also be the first time that two Black American men have been in the quarter-finals of the hardcourt major at the same time, another sign of progress in a historically white sport.
Tiafoe, in particular, has emerged as a flag bearer for the American fans, beloved for his extraordinary skills but also his charismatic personality and larger-than-life showmanship on the court.
The moment is certainly not lost on 25 year-old Tiafoe, who a year ago made history as the first Black American man to reach the semi-finals at Flushing since Ashe in 1972.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere, I think great representation for people of colour, right?” he told reporters.
“Two people of colour playing in the quarter-finals, huge match on Arthur Ashe. It’s a pretty monumental moment.”
Ben Shelton, a left hander is just 20 years old.
He qualified for the second time in his career for the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, beating fellow American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Sunday.
Shelton leads the US Open with 62 aces and has hit by far the fastest serves.