Shelton confident he can challenge Alcaraz more than at Roland Garros in US Open clash

[p][b]"I think he's playing extremely high level,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shelton-ben/QNuG0Gzb/"]Shelton[/a] said of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a], defending his title after a four and a half month absence recovering from a right wrist injury.[/p][p][b]"To me, he looks very normal - his normal, I mean, which is impressive after not playing for five months,"[/b] the American added.[/p][p]"I'm excited for the battle. Never played him here in New York, and obviously in the position that I want to be in."[/p][p]Alcaraz has won all three of their career meetings, including a victory at Roland Garros last year, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/shelton-b-QNuG0Gzb/?mid=8fQuXC5S"]Shelton thinks he has improved enough since then to challenge the Spaniard[/a].[/p][p]"I thought I played a good match in Paris, but I think I'm serving better, returning much better," Shelton said.[/p][p][b]"I think my shot tolerance from the baseline, overall quality from the baseline, and my movement have improved.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's definitely going to be a different match playing here."[/b][/p][embed guid="c93f51c8-37ab-4e85-b14b-e659ce4998c9" url="https://x.com/usopen/status/2096791321675538897/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]Alcaraz has gone from strength to strength through the first four rounds.[/p][p]The Spaniard has noted improvements not only in his shots but also in his ability to read the game.[/p][p]His draw-reading skills might need work: After his fourth-round win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-tommy/pd3ye1BS/"]Tommy Paul[/a], Alcaraz thought he was headed to a quarter-final against either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tiafoe-frances/AHDLJaph/"]Frances Tiafoe[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a], needing a correction from former US Open champion Andy Roddick to set him straight during a television interview.[/p][p]The 23-year-old, whose Australian Open title in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, says that on court his serve remains a weak link.[/p][p]He's hoping he can use his new return strategy to unsettle Shelton, who routed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Stefanos Tsitsipas[/a] in the fourth round behind a stellar serving performance.[/p][p]"I'm trying to make them think a little bit," Alcaraz said of his tactic of varying his return position. "In a way, you're putting pressure on him."[/p][embed guid="553dc677-f927-4288-aaaf-1bc41e25880b" url="https://x.com/usopen/status/2096703853483716870/video/1" social-type="twitter" /][p]In a men's draw already lacking injured No. 1 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and further opened up by the early exits of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a], third-seeded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Felix Auger-Aliassime[/a] and French Open finalist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a], the Alcaraz-Shelton showdown is the only possible clash between top-10 players before the final.[/p][p]Shelton says he is expecting fireworks.[/p][p]Alcaraz, beloved by New York fans since he captured his first major title here in 2022, knows they'll be backing Shelton come Tuesday.[/p][p][b]"I think he uses the crowd, the people behind him, especially when he's playing here at home."[/b][/p]