Do you recollect the last American men’s singles Grand Slam champion? Well, you will have to roll back 21 years to find one! At the 2003 US Open, Andy Roddick emerged victorious, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the summit clash. After that, no other American men’s singles player has been able to put his hands on the Grand Slam trophy as of today. Despite boasting enormous talent and as many as 5 players in the top 20 of the ATP rankings, the wait still continues. Nonetheless, Ben Shelton is eager to break this 21-year-old jinx.

The American sensation is one of the dark horses to win the tournament this year. One can hardly forget his exploits from the previous edition, where he reached the semifinals. Ahead of the tournament, Shelton was asked by Interview Magazine about his chances and the pressure going into the tournament.

“Every time that I go out there, I’m playing for my country. I have the American flag on my chest, not literally, but I’m just excited about where American tennis is at. I’m not sure who’s going to be the next guy to win a slam. But I am sure that there is going to be somebody in the future, an American, who wins a slam, and I think that we’re steadily improving. We went from one to two to three to four to five guys in the top 20 in a short time. So for me, it’s really encouraging,” Shelton revealed.

Although Shelton has had a decent run in the tournaments of late, his last title victory came in Houston, back in April. However, the 21-year-old is excited about one particular thing that brings the best out of him at Grand Slams.

What does Ben Shelton love about Grand Slams?

Unlike other tournaments, Grand Slams have best-of-five sets for men’s singles. The American sensation is a big fan of this format as it serves as an extra physical test for the players. Moreover, at 21, he is in the best physical shape of his career, which is an added advantage to him.

Talking about this, Ben Shelton said, “It means a lot. For me, being a competitor, it means even more, because I think that more than anything, three-out-of-five sets is a competitive and physical test. It’s a war. It’s a little different than two out of three sets. I think there’s a lot more to think about. If you’re willing or if you’re able to go the distance in a five-set match. That’s one of the things I love about Grand Slams.”

Shelton’s first-round match against Dominic Thiem is currently underway and he has already won the opening two sets. With the American star looking in good nick, can he lift the US Open title this year? Let us know your views in the comments below.