ATLANTA — Atlanta fans gathered Sunday to cheer on Georgia native Ben Shelton as he competed in the U.S. Open final.
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Some fans were initially watching the match outside on their cell phones before realizing it was being shown inside on a much bigger screen.
“There’s a guy from Atlanta playing. It’s a big moment. No American has won the U.S. Open final in 23 years,” one fan said.
Fans said Shelton has brought a new energy to tennis as he takes the court on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
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Shelton, 23, was born in Atlanta and grew up around the tennis courts at Georgia Tech, where his father, Bryan Shelton, coached the women’s tennis team.
He later played college tennis at the University of Florida before turning pro.
For fans watching Sunday, there was also history on the line. Shelton was trying to become the first American man to win the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick in 2003.
“Absolutely a win for American tennis,” another fan said.
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