When Novak Djokovic won the first of his 95 titles in Amersfoort, Ben Shelton was not yet three years old. Since then, the Serbian has built an incomparable career and, at 36, he still fights for the most substantial objectives, as shown by the fact that after winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year and playing the Wimbledon final he will fight for the title at the US Open. Shelton has lived in New York little less than a fairy tale: the young local player with hardly any past who breaks into the US Open to reach the semifinals and meet what is for many the best ever. Rocky versus Apollo Creed, without the title at stake and inverted skin color. Djokovic beat Djokovic 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in two hours and 39 minutes.

The Atlanta left-hander's dream began to fall apart too soon. Impulsive, erratic, he lost on his serve and offered his opponent four set balls, 2-5 down. He saved them, and even had an option to make up ground, but Nole would get out of the small trouble to close the partial.

Djokovic shows no signs of fatigue. He had a scare in the third round match against compatriot Laslo Djere, and internalized his reply as a show of strength. After returning from those two adverse sets, he has been planted in the final without mishaps or weight opponents. There is no shortage of round numbers in his bulky success count. He won his 100th match at the U.S. Open and will be playing in his tenth final of the tournament, equaling Bill Tilden's record. It will also be the thirty-sixth of the Grand Slam, which will allow him to envy for his twenty-fourth major.

Lukewarm reaction

Djokovic ruled the game at will and lowered the decibels of the stands that filled the Arthur Ashe, covered by rain. People were eager to be complicit in one of those great and amazing stories that ever happens in sport. But the situation was repeated in the second partial. Eager to please, Shelton seemed to have to settle for signing some bright spot, but he tried not to let his destiny stop at running from one place to another and making mistakes that revealed the traces of acne. He made a total of 43.

The boy did not lack enthusiasm. With the duel almost lost, he let go and took advantage of the excess of appeasement of his opponent to get to stand with a set ball, suffocated by Djokovic with a winning serve. The Belgrade equalized to five and broke next. There was still to play, as Shelton saved a match ball and made room in the tiebreaker, a redoubt where Djokovic admits few jokes. After consummating the victory, on the way to the net, he simulated a phone call, the same gesture of his opponent when he beat Frances Tiafoe and knew that he would play the final in front of him.

With his remarkable performance in the tournament, Shelton has earned the jump from 47th to 19th, up from 165th a year ago. Time will tell if we are facing a competitor with progression or a passing phenomenon. It is clear that he still has a lot to learn if he wants to rub shoulders with those at the top.

  • tennis
  • US Open
  • Novak Djokovic
  • Carlos Alcaraz