Sports

Tennis Experts Urge Ben Shelton to Rely on Power Serving Against Alcaraz in US Open Quarter-Final

By Richie Mills

Ben Shelton enters his US Open quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz as the underdog, yet former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski still considers him the most dangerous player in the Spaniard's section of the draw. Rusedski believes Shelton must serve exceptionally well to have any chance against Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion who holds a perfect 13-0 record against American opponents in majors. According to Rusedski, it will be up to the two-time Canadian Open winner to play aggressively and take risks during their Tuesday night clash.

Speaking on his Off Court podcast, Rusedski explained that Shelton's biggest asset is his powerful serve, which can overwhelm opponents. He emphasized the importance of varying serve types—including kick serves, slices, and flat serves—while holding service games comfortably. Rusedski also stressed the need to attack Alcaraz's second serve, occasionally approaching the net to unsettle him. He warned that predictability could prove costly, as Alcaraz would capitalize on any rhythm he establishes.

Andy Roddick, another player known for his powerful serve during his career, shares Rusedski's view on the serve's importance but disagrees on strategy. The 2003 US Open champion, speaking on his show Served, suggested Shelton abandon slice serves in favor of powerful, direct shots. Roddick highlighted Shelton's unique ability as a left-hander to serve at speeds up to 145 mph, something Alcaraz rarely encounters, and said Shelton must use this weapon to disrupt his opponent's game plan.

Brad Gilbert, who previously coached Andre Agassi, has also weighed in on the anticipated matchup since the US Open draw was announced. Gilbert predicts that whoever wins this quarter-final will go on to win the tournament. He noted that Shelton has lost all four of his previous meetings with the 23-year-old Alcaraz, and to change that outcome, the left-handed American needs to prioritize powerful serving and aggressive returns on second serves.

Speaking on The Big T podcast, Gilbert said he would encourage Shelton to reduce his reliance on kick serves and slices in favor of hitting speeds near 149 mph and aiming for around 30 aces. He also advised Shelton to take risks on second-serve returns and keep rallies short to prevent Alcaraz from settling into extended exchanges, which Gilbert identified as a potential vulnerability for Shelton if the match extends into longer points.