Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton opened their U.S. Open campaigns with straight-sets victories on Sunday, advancing to the second round and energising hopes of ending a 22-year title drought for home men at Flushing Meadows. Fourth seed Fritz subdued fellow American wildcard Emilio Nava 7-5 6-2 6-3, firing 11 aces and dropping only one service game after a tight opening set. On Arthur Ashe Stadium, 22-year-old Shelton produced 35 winners to dispatch Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse 6-3 6-2 6-4, improving to 16-0 in his major career when he secures the first two sets. The pair headline a 48-strong U.S. contingent in this year’s singles draws, the largest since the pandemic-affected 2020 edition. Fritz reached the final last year, becoming the first American man since 2006 to play for the trophy, while Shelton arrives in New York fresh off his maiden Masters-level title in Toronto. Fritz will meet either Argentina’s Sebastian Baez or South African qualifier Lloyd Harris in the next round, and Shelton awaits the winner of the all-Spanish clash between Pablo Carreno Busta and qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz as both players look to sustain the home momentum deep into the fortnight.