Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe have fallen just short of a memorable opening doubles win at the Citi Open in Washington DC.
Shelton and Tiafoe created huge excitement among fans with their partnership, taking on the Washington Open doubles event together.
But the Americans were sent crashing back down to earth in front of their home fans by John Peers and Matthew Ebden.
The highly experienced pair, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, secured a 7-6(7-3), 6-3 victory.
Shelton rejoined the ATP top 10 after Wimbledon, having made it to the quarterfinals before falling to Jannik Sinner.
Photo by Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency/Getty ImagesBen Shelton names the best mixed doubles player in the world ‘hands down’
But he wasn’t able to take that momentum into Washington DC on the doubles court, although he has a shot at redemption in singles.
The ATP number eight did, however, discuss his doubles career ahead of the event, having been told he and his playing partner Taylor Townsend are ‘pretty clear overdogs’ for the US Open mixed doubles title.
Shelton replied: “Yeah, I don’t know about that. Got some big hitters in there. But yeah, we’re both from Atlanta. We have known each other, been friends since I have been out on tour.
“Obviously we made a semis run at the US Open. Personally, if I wasn’t still in the singles, we probably would have had a good shot at taking that title.
“Yeah, she’s the best mixed doubles player in the world, hands down. So if I was going to play, I wasn’t going to play at all unless I could play with her.
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“My dad was, like, there’s no point in playing if you’re not trying to win it and you don’t think you have a chance to win it. And she’s who I think I have a chance to win it with. It should be a lot of fun. We enjoy ourselves. We compete hard. But, you know, we clown out there also.
“Yeah, it’s a big prize. I forget what the prize money is for the tournament, but I feel like it’s ridiculous. It’s a mill? Yeah, I guess you could say we’ll be playing hard.”
Ben Shelton suggests why he plays his best tennis at the US Open
The revamped US Open mixed doubles event has already created plenty of excitement, with fans certain to flock to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to take in the action.
It takes place during US Open Fan Week, and does indeed involve a massive $1million prize for the winners.
READ MORE: Jack Sock names who he thinks is more likely to win a Grand Slam out of Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz
And Shelton and Townsend can be quietly confident of success, primarily given the latter’s stunning feats on the court.
She is currently in her career-high ranking of world number two in doubles, and boasts nine career titles on the WTA Tour.
That includes two Grand Slam successes, with Townsend winning the doubles titles at the 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon 2024, both alongside Katerina Siniakova.
The American has also lost two Grand Slam mixed doubles finals, and indeed two Grand Slam doubles finals.
Andrea Vavassori
Andrea Vavassori
Taylor Townsend Grand Slam mixed doubles finals
Shelton’s best run at a Grand Slam before this year was indeed at the US Open, when he reached the semifinals in 2023.
But he emulated that feat at this year’s Australian Open, where again it was ATP number one Sinner who ended his dream run.
Looking back on his first ever venture in New York, Shelton reminisced: “Yeah, I guess I find peace in the chaos, because I feel more uncomfortable at the quiet tournaments where there is not much going on, not as many fans, or the ground isn’t packed with people, or there is not a stigma of excitement around the tournament.
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“It’s like for me that’s what I live for, playing these tournaments. It’s like every tournament of the year there is other tournaments that are sick, that they’re cool, but for me just can’t compare, because that energy is not there when you’re driving from the city to the site or, you know, getting ready to walk out on Arthur Ashe.
“For me, there is no feeling like it. That’s my personal opinion. But that’s where I have always felt at home playing and the reason I feel like I play my best tennis there.”
After Shelton’s doubles exit, his fellow American Mackenzie McDonald is now in his current focus, with the pair meeting in the Washington Open round of 32 singles event.