Shelton Rallies Past Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2; Tiafoe Wins in Five Sets

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton recovered from a 28-minute opening set to defeat Tallon Griekspoor at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

No. 8 seed Ben Shelton defeated Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to the second round of the US Open. Shelton, the highest-seeded American man in the draw, overcame a first set that lasted just 28 minutes, during which he was broken three times and won only a single game. This performance tied his career record for the fewest games won in the opening set of a major tournament. Following that difficult start, Shelton went a perfect 13-for-13 in service games from the second set through the conclusion of the match.

Tallon Griekspoor’s loss dropped his career record against ATP Top-10 opponents in major championships to 0-8. Shelton noted in his on-court interview that he began the evening feeling nervous but successfully established his rhythm during the second set. He expressed comfort playing on the Ashe court and is now scheduled to face Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, a player he has never faced in professional competition.

Tiafoe Extends Major Opening Round Streak

On Louis Armstrong Stadium, No. 11 seed Frances Tiafoe secured a comeback victory against fellow American Martin Damm with a final score of 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. By overcoming a two sets to one deficit, Tiafoe extended his active streak to 22 consecutive first-round wins at major tournaments, which is currently the longest such streak on the men's tour. This distinction shifted to Tiafoe after Novak Djokovic, who previously held an Open era-record of 78 straight opening-round wins, suffered a defeat on Sunday.

The victory marked Tiafoe's 25th career match win at Flushing Meadows. This total is significantly higher than his performance at any other Grand Slam event, surpassing his 15 wins at Wimbledon. The five-set marathon required Tiafoe to win the final two sets consecutively to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Nakashima and Tien Secure Dominant Victories

No. 16 seed Brandon Nakashima advanced by defeating Sebastian Baez in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0. This result represented Nakashima's 23rd hard-court match win of the season, a figure that leads the ATP Tour. In what was his 43rd career appearance in a major match, Nakashima surrendered only three games, marking the fewest games he has ever dropped in a single Grand Slam contest.

Another American, No. 14 seed Learner Tien, also progressed to the next round by defeating Nuno Borges. Tien secured the win with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. The collective performance of the seeded American men on Monday night highlighted a strong start for the home nation at the year's final major.

Shelton’s recovery from his "miserable start" and Tiafoe’s resilience in a five-set scare ensured that the top-ranked Americans remained in contention. The statistical dominance of Nakashima on hard courts this year continues to be a focal point of the US Open results, as he looks to build on his tour-leading win count. The tournament continues following these Monday night sessions, with Shelton moving toward his inaugural matchup against Hurkacz.