Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance in the US Open semi‑final on Friday, overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe to earn a spot in the championship match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. The encounter unfolded on a poignant evening that opened with tributes marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. After dropping the opening set, Shelton rallied to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving a step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to claim a Grand Slam singles title.
Since Andy Roddick's triumph in 2003, no U.S. male player has lifted a Grand Slam trophy.
Shelton now has the chance to become the first Black American to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972, and potentially the first American champion in over two decades. Zverev secured his own place in the final earlier in the day, dispatching Karen Khachanov 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6) and edging closer to a second major crown.
When asked about his mindset, Shelton said, "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." The semi‑final began with Tiafoe taking an early lead, breaking Shelton's serve to go up 5‑4 after Shelton double‑faulted. Tiafoe then held serve to close out the first set.
In the second set, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton's backhand, but Shelton found his rhythm. At 2‑1, he thought he had unleashed the fastest serve ever recorded at a Grand Slam, a 158 mph bullet. Subsequent review by Hawk‑Eye and the USTA, however, corrected the speed to 144 mph.
With fresh balls at 3‑3, Shelton turned up the intensity, delivering a 125 mph serve that forced Tiafoe into a defensive swing, followed by serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph. The power surge helped Shelton break in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a decisive lead. His left‑handed serve, now booming and reliable, combined with a rock‑solid defensive game, allowed the eighth seed to apply relentless pressure throughout the high‑octane fourth set, eventually sealing an emotional victory. The 23‑year‑old finished the match with 47 winners, including 20 aces, cementing his ticket to the title showdown.
For context, the all‑time US Open serve record belongs to Andy Roddick, who hit 152 mph in 2002, while the fastest serve ever recorded in professional tennis is Sam Groth's 163.6 mph at a Challenger event. Zverev's path to the final has been equally dramatic.
After being pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds, he has won his last four matches in straight sets, reaching his third consecutive major final. He previously fell short in the 2020 US Open, losing to Dominic Thiem. Reflecting on his second‑round performance, Zverev laughed, "After the second round at 3 a.m., my team and I were in the locker room actually laughing at how bad I was playing. That sense of humour helped me.
I have improved a little bit, otherwise I wouldn't be in the US Open final." All of Zverev's matches have taken place in the night sessions, leaving him accustomed to playing under lights and finishing deep into the night. The 29‑year‑old has benefited from the early exits of Jannik Sinner, as well as defeats of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, and a relatively favorable draw, propelling him to a third straight Grand Slam final. He told reporters, "I really started off the tournament, and I was like, 'Well, this is pointless because I'm not going to do anything here,' and here I am sitting and preparing for a Sunday final." In the semi‑final against Khachanov, a solitary break was enough for Zverev to clinch the first set.
After breaking again early in the second set, he seemed on track for a routine victory, but a double fault gave Khachanov back his serve, leading to a tense tie‑break. Zverev trailed 5‑3 at one point but eventually won the tie‑break after a grueling 35‑shot rally. The third set mirrored the second, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4, only for Zverev to salvage the set with two errant forehands and an ace that gave him match point, which he converted on the first try.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Zverev expressed excitement rather than anxiety about a partisan crowd, stating, "I think it's going to be a fantastic feeling playing a final in a sold‑out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one. For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they're fair." Former champion Martina Navratilova praised Zverev's season, saying, "What a year Zverev has had at the majors. It's been outstanding stuff. Okay, Sinner lost early at the French Open and Alcaraz didn't play, but there are no asterisks; he still had to get through even as a favourite.
And that has given the confidence to play better tennis after that. I think he played better at Wimbledon than he did at Roland Garros, and now he started off badly here by his own admission, but he hasn't lost a set the last four matches." The US Open will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.