US Open runner-up Ben Shelton withdraws from Laver Cup and is replaced by Brandon Nakashima

LONDON (AP) — U.S. Open runner-up Ben Shelton withdrew from the Laver Cup and will be replaced by 16th-ranked Brandon Nakashima on Team World, organizers announced Thursday.

No reason was given for Shelton’s withdrawal but he's slated to play Davis Cup for the United States in the Czech Republic starting on Friday — less than a week after losing to Alexander Zverev in the U.S. Open final.

Shelton is up to a career-high No. 4 in the rankings after reaching his first Grand Slam final.

It will mark Nakashima’s Laver Cup debut. He joins Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien and Francisco Cerundolo on Team World, which has Andre Agassi as its captain.

Yannick Noah’s Team Europe features Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud.

The Laver Cup, which is modeled after the Ryder Cup, is scheduled for the O2 arena in London Sept. 25-27.

___

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Ben Shelton suffers Davis Cup defeat in 1st match since US Open final

U.S.

Zverev was the best in the majors this year, but won't call himself the best player in tennis

Alexander Zverev won two Grand Slam titles and reached another final this year. He was the best player in the biggest events.

An adoring US Open crowd wasn't quite enough to lift Ben Shelton to a history-making title

Ben Shelton may have had “99.9%” of the U.S. Open crowd cheering for him, as opponent Alexander Zverev estimated.

The Latest

Credit: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scan

Denmark's leaders are cautiously optimistic about Trump's announcement of a Greenland deal

23m ago

Saudi Arabia issues air raid alerts across the country, and other Mideast developments

36m ago

Italy sees mosquitos spread the West Nile virus farther and longer as Europe warms

44m ago

Featured

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC

News