Published On 30 Aug 2025
Novak Djokovic, the world champion, and Ben Shelton, the star of the US Open, struggled to reach the fourth round while Novak Djokovic battled through his own physical struggles and ended his tearful start to his career.
When Shelton’s tournament suddenly failed, he was locked in a fun match with Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Friday at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
I don’t know what it is; I just did something to my shoulder. During a medical timeout, the sixth-seeded American told his father and coach Bryan. “I’m in a lot of pain.
Fans were gasping as left-hander Mannarino fought back to tie the match at two sets all. A devastated Shelton wiped away tears before withdrawing before the decider, which gave him a moment of grief.
In yet another upset, Shelton’s compatriot, 17th-seeded Frances Tiafoe, lost to big-serving German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(7), while tenth-seeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova went down 4-6, 6-, 4 6-4.
Djokovic, 38, was making history as the younger generation hacked their wounds under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Serb defeated Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 to seal his place as the only Briton still in the men’s draw, making him the oldest man to reach the last 16 at Flushing Meadows since Jimmy Connors in 1991.
With his 192nd victory, Roger Federer becomes the man with the most hardcourt victories in the majors, a record-equaling title for the 25th Grand Slam winner.
“I’m good, man. After his battling victory, Djokovic declared, “I’m as young as ever and strong as ever.”
Elena Rybakina, the 2021 champion, defeated 6-1, 6-2, by Emma Raducanu at the same Louis Armstrong Stadium where Shelton suffered, as British hopes for a women’s draw were ended with the Kazakhs’ clinical efficiency.
Luciano Darderi, the reigning champion, defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-4, and 6-0, despite his own injury worries.
Alcaraz took a precautionary medical leave of absence but was unconcerned by the shocking display. “It was just the game that he broke my serve,” said Alcaraz, who later eased concerns with a devastating display.
“I was concerned,” I said. However, it was gone after five and a half points. After that, I was concerned. I requested the physio because of this. Nothing serious, so this was just a precaution.
Leylah Fernandez’s defeat by defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka by a score of 6-3, 7-6 (2) was the Canadian’s way of avenging her 2021 US Open semifinal upset.
Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, said, “I really wanted this retribution.” “I’m very happy with the victory,” he declared.
Fourth seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 7-5, and was followed by former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (4), 6-1.
Unseeded American Taylor Townsend, who advanced with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over fifth-seeded Mirra Andreeva in yet another massive upset, will also play in the last 16.
Shelton resisted being in front of the cameras when he was in pain despite his heartache.
He said, “I’ve had a lot of blessings, talents, and many things that God has given me in my life.”
You won’t hear me rant about how bad things are with the summer I’ve had, what I did in this sport in a short amount of time, and who I got around.
Taylor Fritz, the only American man still standing, defeated Switzerland’s Jerome Kym 7-6 (3), 6 (6), 6-4, 6-4 in the final match at Ashe to lift some of the gloom.
