(New York) Young American Ben Shelton mercilessly eliminated Dominic Thiem on Monday in the first round of the US Open, where the Austrian won his only Major in 2020 and where he was playing for the last time in his career.
Despite his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat in 1 hour 50 minutes, the Austrian, who will celebrate his 31st birthday on September 3, was questioned on the Arthur-Ashe court before his winner.
“Thank you very much for your support all these years. I first played here in 2014 and had my greatest success on this court in the strange 2020 edition, in very different conditions,” he said, referring to the closed-door tournament imposed in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PHOTO ANDREW KELLY, REUTERS
Ben Shelton
“It was an incredible moment, but at the same time a little sad. So I’m very happy to have had the chance to play my last match of the US Open today on this court and in front of you,” he told the cheering crowd.
In what was predictably his final match at Flushing Meadows given his opponent’s performances relative to his own in recent years, Thiem had the honour of opening the tournament on the immense Arthur Ashe Court.
Already, and unlike at Roland-Garros where he lost in qualifying, Thiem had received an invitation to join the main draw in New York.
He did this as much honor as he could wild cardgiving Shelton, 21 and a semifinalist last year, a hard time through the first nine games of the game. Then he was completely overwhelmed.
” Sorry “
“I’m sorry it ended like this, but there’s a lot of people who love you,” Shelton told him when he was interviewed on the court.
“I want to congratulate Dominic on his Grand Slam career. Winning a Grand Slam tournament is something you dream about as a kid playing tennis. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” added the 21-year-old American.
Thiem then left the Central Court with a gift from the organization: a patchwork of photos of his best moments at Flushing Meadows.
For his part, Shelton will face the Spaniard Roberto Bautista (67) in the second round.e), before a possible third-round clash against his compatriot Frances Tiafoe (20e), semi-finalist in 2022.
Zverev’s victory
PHOTO TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Alexander Zverev
German Alexander Zverev, 2020 finalist against Thiem, had a complicated start to the competition as he lost a set to his compatriot Maximilian Marterer (100e) before winning 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2 in 2 hours 53 minutes.
The results of the 1D daytime
1er tour (men’s singles)
- Casper Ruud (NOR/N.8) beats Bu Yunchaokete (CHN) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2
- Roberto Carballés (ESP) beats Jan Choinski (GBR) 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3
- Shang Juncheng (CHN) defeats Alexander Bublik (KAZ/N.27) 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
- Ugo Humbert (FRA/N.17) beats Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
- Francisco Comesaña (ARG) defeats Dominic Stricker (SUI) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
- Matteo Berrettini (ITA) defeats Albert Ramos (ESP) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-3
- Taylor Fritz (USA/N.12) beats Camilo Ugo (ARG) 7-5, 6-1, 6-2
- Alexander Zverev (GER/N.4) beats Maximilian Marterer (GER) 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2
- Andrey Rublev (RUS/N.6) beats Thiago Wild (BRA) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
- Mitchell Krueger (USA) defeats Hugo Grenier (FRA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
- Jirí Lehecka (CZE/N.32) beats Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-0 (abandonment)
- Ben Shelton (USA/N.13) beats Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
- Roberto Bautista (ESP) defeats Luca Nardi (ITA) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5)
- Alexei Popyrin (AUS/N.28) beats Kwon Soonwoo (KOR) 7-5, 6-2, 6-3