Viland: Mboko could replicate Raducanu’s miracle, Shelton is the top dark horse with a chance to win the title

The US Open officially begins tomorrow, and before the tournament starts, tennis legend Viland made his predictions on the championship contenders, highlighting two major dark horses in men’s and women’s singles: 18-year-old Canadian rising star Mboko and American young talent Shelton.

Mboko shone brilliantly at this year’s Montreal tennis event, where, as a wildcard, she defeated four Grand Slam champions—Kenin, Gauff, Rybakina, and Osaka—to claim the title. Her ranking jumped from over 300 to earning a seed at the US Open, instantly making her a well-known Canadian prospect. Although she later withdrew from the Cincinnati tournament due to exhaustion, her performance at this year’s US Open remains highly anticipated.

Viland spoke highly of Mboko without reservation: “She is extremely mature athletically, has remarkable striking ability, and an excellent attitude. I believe we are looking at someone who will compete for Grand Slam titles over the next decade.”

The Swedish legend even compared Mboko to two US Open miracle-makers, Raducanu and Andreescu: “Why can’t she win the US Open? We saw this with Raducanu and Andreescu—they were very young at the time, just like Mboko.”

However, Mboko faces a tough draw at this year’s US Open, with a first-round match against Krejcikova and a possible second-round encounter with Danilovic or Nishioka. On this, Navratilova added: “Mboko has loudly and clearly announced her arrival and must be considered a serious dark horse.”

Regarding the men’s side, Viland labeled American Shelton as the “top dark horse.” His reasoning was: “Partly due to his recent results, but more importantly because of his playing style. I believe he has the ability to beat Alcaraz and Sinner. As long as his serve is firing, he is definitely a dark horse in this event.”

Shelton is known for his explosive serve and aggressive playing style. His form has been improving steadily this year, and winning the Toronto Masters gave him his first Masters-level title. In past US Opens, Shelton’s best result was reaching the semifinals in 2023. As a home player, this young talent’s prospects at the US Open are truly exciting.

“I have always believed he is a potential Grand Slam champion because he knows exactly what he is doing; he just happened to face two top players. For me, Shelton is the top dark horse in the men’s draw this year,” Viland said.

However, he also pointed out another contender not to be overlooked this year—the Zverev. Viland noted, “As the tournament’s third seed, he has reached the final here before. He remains a player you cannot ignore! Will he win a Grand Slam someday? Very likely. He consistently stays competitive, frequently reaches late rounds, and rarely loses unexpectedly to lower-ranked players.”

Regarding Viland’s analysis, tennis analyst Brad Gilbert commented: “Viland’s insights are always accurate. Mboko definitely has that special aura reminiscent of young Serena. And Shelton’s serve is powerful enough to cause trouble on any surface.”

ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe pointed out: “Men’s tennis is going through a transition. Djokovic has openly stated he is focusing only on Grand Slams, which opens opportunities for young players like Shelton to break through.”

As the US Open main draw is about to begin, will Viland’s predictions prove accurate? Can Mboko replicate Raducanu’s miracle? Will Shelton become the dark horse to break Alcaraz and Sinner’s dominance? All answers will be revealed at Flushing Meadows.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)