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Ben Shelton\u2019s reward for his battling quarter-final victory at the US Open on Tuesday is a match against 23-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, and as daunting as the task may be the young American is confident he can play the role of disruptor.<\/p>\n
Shelton, the son of former professional Bryan Shelton, is blessed with a big serve and booming forehand but he showed he had plenty of resolve too, beating compatriot Frances Tiafoe 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 at a muggy Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old will need all of his weapons on Friday if he is to stand a chance in his first meeting with Djokovic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that it\u2019s an advantage with my game style, playing someone who\u2019s never played me before,\u201d Shelton told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that I can bring some things to the table that maybe you don\u2019t see in your normal match that you play on the ATP Tour.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSo I\u2019m definitely going to try to bring some things to the table that are different and hopefully disruptive on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n
But playing second seed Djokovic is never a normal match.<\/p>\n
The Serb, who is looking to match Margaret Court\u2019s all-time record of 24 major singles titles with a fourth Flushing Meadows crown, will be competing in a record 47th Grand Slam semi-final.<\/p>\n
Shelton will be playing in his first.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think whenever you play somebody for the first time and someone who has been in this situation so many times and come out victorious so many times, that\u2019s in the back of your head,\u201d Shelton said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou just know how rock solid the guy is and how mentally tough, how physically tough. So that\u2019s definitely something that I have to game-plan for.\u201d<\/p>\n