Ben Shelton defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an electric US Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. The victory moves the 23-year-old into his first Grand Slam final against Alexander Zverev as he chases the first American men’s singles title since 2003.
An All-American Battle in New York
On a poignant evening at Flushing Meadows that opened with commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the semifinal pairing delivered high-drama tennis. Tiafoe made the stronger start and took the opening set after finding the decisive break at 4-4. Shelton appeared in control at 30-0, but Tiafoe responded with a powerful forehand winner before a sequence of errors from his compatriot, including a double fault, handed over the break. Tiafoe then comfortably served out the set to move ahead 6-4.
Shelton responded immediately. He broke Tiafoe to love at the start of the second set and, despite being broken straight back, continued to look increasingly comfortable from the baseline. At 3-3, another aggressive game from Shelton produced a break point, and Tiafoe eventually sent a forehand wide to fall behind. Shelton did not let the opportunity slip, closing out the set 6-3 and drawing level.
The Power Game and a Marathon Third Set
The third set belonged to Shelton. He found another break early after forcing Tiafoe into errors and continued to dictate with his first serve, repeatedly denying his opponent opportunities to build pressure.
Shelton then appeared to produce one of the biggest serves of the tournament. The delivery was initially clocked at 158 mph, but after review it was adjusted to 144 mph. Still, it was a seriously quick serve and another reminder of the power that Shelton brings to the court.
Tiafoe refused to surrender the set, dragging Shelton into an extraordinary final game that featured seven deuces and three set points. Shelton stayed composed through the marathon exchange, eventually holding after around 15 minutes to take the set 6-3.
The fourth set followed a different pattern, with both players holding serve as the pressure intensified. Shelton’s power was matched by his patience throughout the contest, as the eighth seed recovered from a slow start to produce a composed performance. The 23-year-old repeatedly used his serve to escape difficult situations and put Tiafoe on the back foot, while also finding ways to stay composed when the rallies became more demanding. The victory marks another major step in Shelton’s rapid rise, having previously reached the US Open semi-finals in 2023 before going one better in New York.
“First, ‘Foe’ is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament. I know what my goal is, what my job is. I’m going for it here. Let’s do this for the USA! One more thing. It’s a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go to all the families who were impacted by 9/11.”
Ben Shelton
The Final Hurdle Against Alexander Zverev
The all-American semifinal had plenty of familiarity, with the winner securing a title showdown with Alexander Zverev. It is more than just Ben Shelton’s first US Open final, as he is also the first Black American to reach the US Open Final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Shelton now faces Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final. Zverev booked his place in the final by defeating Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) in straight sets to enter his third Grand Slam Final of 2026 and move a step closer to a second Grand Slam title. The German won his first-ever Grand Slam at Roland Garros by beating Flavio Cobolli, but this time will have to beat an American at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win his second Grand Slam of the year.
“I think it’s going to be incredibly special, these two guys Frances and Ben they’ gonna be crowd favorites here in New York, Everybody loves them, I think tonight is going to be an absolutely epic semifinal, and I am looking forward to watching it and hopefully I cannot make the American dream come true on Sunday.”
Alexander Zverev
Zverev has been dominant against both Americans so far in his career. He has beaten Shelton all five times in his career, while holding a 9-1 head-to-head record against Tiafoe. John McEnroe has shown his confidence in Shelton to win the matchup, explaining how he could win the tournament on Sunday as well. It has been 23 years since a home male player won a Grand Slam singles title, last achieved when Andy Roddick triumphed in Flushing Meadows in 2003, and either Shelton or Tiafoe carried hopes of ending that drought before Shelton ultimately advanced to the final.
