NEW YORK — Just before Ben Shelton took the court on this muggy afternoon, the rain ceased, the clouds parted and the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof opened for the sunshine.
Over two grueling weeks at the U.S. Open, Shelton had emerged as the breakout star, a brash 23-year-old with a monster serve, unparalleled athleticism, and a hunger for high-stakes competition. He became the first Black man to reach a U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and sought to become the first American man to win his home grand slam since Andy Roddick in 2003.
