In a poignant moment at the US Open, young American tennis star Ben Shelton displayed a commendable gesture of sportsmanship following his first-round victory over former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem. The match, which ended in a straight-sets win for Shelton, marked the final Grand Slam appearance for Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion.

Despite the competitive nature of the match, Shelton, aware of the significance of the occasion, took a moment to acknowledge Thiem’s contributions to the sport. After securing his victory, Shelton turned to the crowd and urged them to rise to their feet and applaud Thiem, honoring the Austrian’s illustrious career and his final appearance at the US Open.

The gesture by Shelton was met with resounding applause from the crowd, a fitting tribute to Thiem’s legacy in the tennis world. Shelton’s actions underscored the deep respect he holds for the veteran player, recognizing Thiem’s numerous achievements and the impact he has had on the sport.

The moment was a testament to the values of respect and admiration that transcend generations in tennis. Shelton’s encouragement of the crowd to cheer for Thiem highlighted the bond between athletes, even as they compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Shelton at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2024

Currently ranked no.

13 (career-high), Ben owns a 31-19 record in 2024. Ben is currently having a run at the U.S. Open where he conquered the world no.210 Dominic Thiem 6-4 6-2 6-2.

Ben Shelton will compete against the world no.67 Roberto Bautista Agut in the 2^nd round. Their current record is 1-0

for Shelton.

Shelton conquered 1 title in 2024 in Houston.

Dominic Thiem in 2024

Now ranked no.210, Thiem played his last match on the 26^th of August when he was overcome by world no.13 Ben Shelton 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the 1^st round of the U.S. Open (draw).

Currently, during this year the Austrian owns an overall 7-13 win-loss record.

Ben Shelton and Dominic Thiem faced off 3 times. Their actual head to head record is 2-1 for Shelton. Before, the last time they locked horns, Ben Shelton won 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the 1^st round in New York (U.S. Open) on the 26^th of August 2024.

You can watch the highlights in the following video.