Instead of the American men having a tennis breakthrough, they had a breakdown. 

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe both crashed out of the U.S. Open in third-round upset losses on Friday. They’d been tipped to end America’s 22-year drought in men’s majors, but instead suffered major heartbreak in Flushing Meadows. 

After Pat McEnroe had boldly predicted before this U.S. Open that an American man would finally win here for the first time since Andy Roddick in 2003, Shelton was leading unseeded Adrian Mannarino when he injured his shoulder and retired at the start of the fifth set. An hour later, Tiafoe was ousted by Jan-Lennard Struff, the German winning 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7). 

“[The pain level] was really high. I never retired before. I’m not a guy who would retire if I could continue,” said Shelton, who retired for the first time of his Tour-level career. 

“Usually I’ll play through anything and just find a way. And whether it’s sickness or injury, if I can stay out there, I can stay out there. I never felt anything like this before. So, that was kind of tough.” 

It was tough for American men’s tennis as a whole. 

The sixth-seeded Shelton was amid a career-best season and seen as potentially the best chance at breaking the U.S. men’s skid. 

Shelton had won a dramatic set point to take the third set and go up 6-3, 3-6. 6-4. But, in doing so, he took a fall to the Louis Armstrong Stadium court. The tumble may have proved costly. 

While Shelton said he’s not sure what caused the injury, he went for a big forehand in the opening game of the fourth set and immediately grimaced in pain. He clutched at his shoulder and tried to play through it. Shelton did manage to save a break point, but immediately signaled to coach Bryan Shelton, his father. 

Three points into the next game, Shelton had to take a medical timeout with a trainer working on his shoulder. Even when he resumed, a compromised Shelton had to change his entire game, charging the net rather than his usual first-strike style and pounding the ball from the baseline. 

Eventually, Shelton lost the fourth set 6-4. After talking with his father, he resolved to retire. He walked off the court with towel draped over his face. 

Shelton said he was unsure if he’d need any imaging. What’s clear is this is a golden opportunity missed, with even Mannarino admitting a healthy Shelton likely would’ve won. 

“Even if I’m giving a little trouble to him, he’s still a better player than me,” Mannarino said. “So, yeah, bad luck.” 

It got worse for American tennis an hour later as Tiafoe suffered a straight-sets loss on the Grandstand court. 

He was broken five times, while he saw Struff score on 88 percent of his first serves. 

“I was late on a lot of balls, just scrubbing them to be on offense, and he was dictating play. … The match was always kind of on his racket,” Tiafoe said. “I had a little window there when he just gave me some gifts; I didn’t take it. But I played extremely passive; I didn’t put any pressure on him at all. 

“I’ve got to tip my hat to him. He made me feel very, very [uncomfortable], and I didn’t do a very good job of adjusting. It is what it is. I’ve got to swallow it; very, very tough.” 

Tiafoe had his back taped but said it was precautionary and wouldn’t use that as an excuse. 

“No, I had no issues. I felt good, and I’ve had those all the matches,” Tiafoe said. “So, no, I don’t want to use that.” 

This comes after Tiafoe was ousted in the second round at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. 

Tiafoe didn’t expect to have company on his way out from countryman Shelton, whom he assumed was on his way to the fourth round. 

“I saw he was up two sets to one on the court, and that was it; I just figured he probably won,” Tiafoe said. “That always sucks to go out like that. I’ve had that feeling, but especially in a Grand Slam where actually it was most like he was probably going to win, very, very tough.” 

With Tiafoe’s loss and Shelton’s injury, American hopes entering Friday night were pinned on No. 4 Taylor Fritz as he prepared to face Jerome Kym.