.American ping pong enthusiasts, acquire your popcorn ready.It will be actually Ben Shelton vs. Frances Tiafoe in the USA Open 3rd round on Friday-- easily a night-session showdown in Arthur Ashe Arena. It is going to also be actually a rematch of in 2014's quarterfinals, won by Shelton 6-2, 3-6, 7-6( 7 ), 6-2. Neither Shelton nor Tiafoe had much problem putting together the rematch. Shelton did certainly not go down a collection while ousting Dominic Thiem and also Roberto Bautista Agut earlier in the full week. Tiafoe made it through a four-setter versus Aleksandar Kovacevic and afterwards gained from a third-set retired life by Alexander Shevchenko on Wednesday (the planet No. 20 led 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 when it finished).
The end result is actually another section in this pleasant rivalry.
" I certainly wish to bet him," Tiafoe commented prior to Shelton accomplished Bautista Agut. "Clearly he is actually quite like me in just how fired up and lively he gets on the court as well as has such a major game and also big shots and offers huge and also gets the crowd going. He's 21 years old. He is actually young, funny, gaps laughs-- just about as immature as I am. Our experts constantly have a blast poking fun around as well as fracturing jokes, for certain.".
Naturally, friendly relationship is going to be actually allocated for this smash hit war. Tiafoe does not would like to fall back 3-0 in the neck and neck series versus his younger fellow citizen (he additionally lost to Shelton in the Houston final this springtime). Shelton, already as much as No. 13 in the positions, has semifinal lead to fight for as he tries to continue his push for the best 10.
" I am actually really looking forward to it," Shelton claimed. "We had a great fight in the quarters last year and I make sure it is going to be actually yet another snacks match." Ricky contributes to 10sballs. com as well as additionally preserves his own ping pong web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.