Ben Shelton Set to Compete in Davis Cup After US Open Final Defeat

Shelton made his Davis Cup debut in Malaga two years ago when he faced Australia in the quarter-finals. In his first singles match against Thanasi Kokkinakis, Shelton lost the first set 6-1 but rallied to win the second 6-4, pushing the match to a deciding set. However, he ultimately lost 7-6 in a tiebreak, with the final score being 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16-14).

In the doubles match, Shelton teamed up with Tommy Paul but lost to the experienced duo of Jordan Thompson and Matthew Ebden, 6-4, 6-4. This disappointing outing left him without a win, and Team USA was eliminated from the tournament.

Shelton was called up again for Team USA in 2025 for a qualifying tie against Czechia but had to withdraw due to injury. Without him, the team lost 3-2 and did not advance to the Davis Cup Finals.

Now, as Team USA heads to Prague, they hope to fare better with Shelton back on the roster. The Americans lead their head-to-head against Czechia 5-2 despite losing to them in 2025. The team is nearly at full strength, featuring Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul among the top four American players. Additionally, Ethan Quinn and newly crowned US Open doubles champion Christian Harrison complete the lineup.

American players have the following ATP rankings and Davis Cup records: Shelton (4th, 0-2), Fritz (10th, 8-4), Paul (19th, 6-5), Quinn (57th, 1-0), and Harrison (4th in doubles, 1-0).

The Czech team, led by Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka, also features Vit Kopriva, along with doubles players Patrik Rikl and Adam Pavlasek.

The qualifying tie will take place over two days, on Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19. Captain Bob Bryan will be hopeful for success, but he recognizes the challenges posed by the skilled Czech team.