Ben Shelton showed his class as he heaped Praise on opponent Francis TFO after his fellow American knocked him out of the US Open the Dual contested a mesmerizing five- set battle on Arthur Ash with tifo coming from behind to win in five sets it was the reverse of the result when the pair met in a memorable quarterfinal in last year's tournament Shelton was understandably disappointed after seeing his Grand Slam dream come to an end for another year but he also shared his genuine Delight for afle with whom he shares a close relationship in the locker room the pair shared an extended Embrace at the net after the match and Shelton said obviously I thought he played light salt today that was one of the things you've got to be happy for a guy and congratulate especially a guy like him when he's playing the way he's playing I think that it's important to show it sometimes that you know you can be happy for a guy when they beat you obviously there are some things I want to do better I'm a competitor I always want to win but you know I've taken a few things from him in the past year and I thought that he's always handled it well you know maybe not like a big Embrace when we're on the court but soon or right after it's like things are back to normal but one of those cool environments and matches to be a part of it didn't feel right to just go up with a negative look on my face shake his hand and walk off the court because he played some great ball today I told him you know no keep serving like that keep returning like that and see where this thing goes obviously he took me out here so let's see what he can do asked to expand on what he meant by a guy like that Shelton explained just a guy like that how good of a guy he is always smiling not really ever a negative look on his face one of those guys that's fun to be around in the locker room you know he's always cracking jokes even I beat him in the final of Houston he's giving me shots in his postmatch speech just like a good guy I didn't mean anything negative by it just a great guy yeah Shelton and difo are both at the Forefront of an exiting crop of young American Stars they are among five men ranked between 10 and 20 in the world entering the tournament alongside Tommy Paul Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Corda Shelton said I think it's really cool to see where American tennis is going it's not just me and fo you know there there's four or five other guys in the mix we all are going to have our moments to shine there is Peaks and valleys in this sport for sure I just got to continue to improve I know that this is even though you know maybe I looked happy for him or excited for him after the match it definitely lit a fire underneath me I'm not someone who likes to lose I hate losing yeah I'm excited to see where American tennis goes and I'm going to continue doing my part and go back to the Dr trying bored you know look at those things that I did today that I wish I hadn't done and Tred to get