“ This is the best court in tennis, ” said Ben Shelton during his on-court interview following decimating Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse in the opening round of the US Open. The American also went on to note that the Big Apple tournament felt like “ home ” to him. And yet, despite Shelton’s high regard for the final Grand Slam of the year, one fact remains like an insatiable itch: no American has won at the Flushing Meadows final since Andy Roddick did it last in 2003.

Naturally, the 22-year-old Atalanta native would like nothing more than to put an end to the US Open drought. With both Shelton and Taylor Fritz starting off strong in New York and Frances Tiafoe’s first match just around the corner, home fans are bracing up with hope once again. And Shelton is all about rallying b

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