Ben Shelton, the No. 8 seed, moved into the Round of 32 at the US Open with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Hubert Hurkacz on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The American prevailed in just over three hours and twenty minutes by leaning on a high first-serve percentage and a cleaner error sheet. Hurkacz fired more aces and did plenty of damage behind his first delivery, but Shelton’s steadier serving rhythm and timely returns on second serve told the story. For the full stat breakdown and point-by-point flow, visit the Sofascore match page, and track the broader tournament picture on the US Open, Men hub.

Serve patterns that shaped the match

This was a classic hard-court duel of power versus consistency, and the numbers capture it neatly. Hurkacz struck 14 aces to Shelton’s 6, yet the Pole’s first-serve accuracy lagged at 58% compared with Shelton’s 72%. When the first ball landed, Hurkacz was excellent, winning 85% of those points against Shelton’s 73%. The catch was volume, because Shelton kept finding first serves and avoided prolonged pressure on his second delivery. The American also took care of damage control with just 3 double faults, while Hurkacz had 7.

Second-serve exchanges tilted the match. Shelton won 66% of his second-serve points, a strong edge over Hurkacz’s 55%. On return, Hurkacz did better against first serves, taking 27% of points off Shelton’s first ball, but Shelton countered by claiming 44% on Hurkacz’s second serve. Those margins added up to subtle but decisive advantages across long games. By the end, Shelton led in total points 144–133 and total games 25–21, solid cushions in a four-set outcome.

How the first two sets unfolded

Hurkacz opened the match on serve, but Shelton dictated the early terms. In set one, the American landed a massive 92% of first serves and never faced a break point. He converted his lone break chance and posted a clean sheet on doubles, while Hurkacz’s 3 double faults hurt at key moments. Even with Hurkacz winning 90% behind his limited first serves in the opener, he simply did not get enough of them in play. The set closed 6-3 with Shelton controlling tempo behind quick holds.

Set two was the Pole’s response. Hurkacz dialed up 6 aces and improved his first-serve hit rate to 73%, winning 78% of those points. He also converted 2 break points to edge the set 7-5, the only stanza where he outscored Shelton on both serve and return. Shelton still served at 63% first-serve accuracy and a perfect 13/13 on second-serve makes, but he won just 54% of those second-serve points in the set. Hurkacz’s best run of the night, a 7-point streak, arrived here and shifted momentum, at least briefly.

The tiebreak that swung control

The third set showcased both players holding firm, and the stat lines show a near deadlock on serve. Each man won 28 service points in the set, yet Shelton owned the return mini-battles, taking 12 receiver points to Hurkacz’s 5. The American’s serving was peak-level here, with 88% of first-serve points won and 78% on second serve. He faced no break points, a sign of scoreboard comfort even as games piled up. Hurkacz kept the aces coming and found 65% first serves, but he could not crack Shelton’s delivery when it mattered.

That stability carried into the tiebreak, which Shelton sealed 7-3. On the return, he nicked just enough first-serve points at 23% and did even better on seconds at 42%. Those extra replies back into play shifted long rallies his way, and with cleaner execution in tight points, the set tipped to the home favorite. By winning the breaker, Shelton turned a balanced frame into a scoreboard lead, and the cumulative effect of higher first-serve volume began to show.

Closing it out in set four

The final set was a test of nerve and small margins. Shelton kept landing first serves at 77% and matched Hurkacz’s efficiency on those points at 68%. He also protected his serve under fire, saving 3/3 break points. On the other side, Hurkacz saved 3/4 but could not fend off the one decisive push late in the set. Service points tilted to Shelton 29–25, the kind of narrow gap that decides a 7-5 finish on a hard court.

Return-wise, both men won 32% of points off the opponent’s first serve in the set, but Shelton again won a few more on second serve, 45% to 40%. That slight return edge, combined with a steadier second serve on his own racquet, became the difference. With rallies lengthening and pressure rising, the American’s lower error count held. He closed the door at 7-5 to take the match three sets to one and advance in New York.

Key numbers behind the result

Across the match, Hurkacz hit more winners, 46 to Shelton’s 39, but gave back more with 58 total errors to Shelton’s 51. In unforced errors alone, Shelton kept things tighter, 34 to 43. The American’s forehand was a weapon, producing 26 winners, and he added 10 more at the net. Hurkacz spread his winners well and punished first serves, but the second-serve battles and overall consistency leaned the other way. Both men posted a max of 7 points won in a row, reflecting long patches of high-level holding.

On break points, Shelton converted 3 chances to Hurkacz’s 2, a slim yet decisive edge that aligned with the final scoreline. Receiver points won finished 46–40 for Shelton, while service points were 98–93 in his favor. Add it all together and the American produced an 11-point cushion on the night. On a fast hard court, those incremental gains on second serve and in the clutch return points make all the difference. For more stats from New York and the full draw, check US Open, Men coverage on Sofascore.

If you want to relive the action point by point, head to the Sofascore match page. You will find the set-by-set splits, serve and return breakdowns, and all the numbers that defined this four-set win.