Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are still chasing a historic milestone: becoming the first American men to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003. As the US Open moves into the semi‑final round, both players have produced memorable performances that have reignited hopes for a home champion.
Shelton’s run this year has been nothing short of dramatic. In the early hours of Wednesday, he faced the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in what turned out to be the latest‑finishing match ever recorded at the tournament.
The encounter stretched deep into the night, with both athletes exchanging blows in a grueling three‑hour, 45‑minute battle. Shelton emerged victorious, sending Alcaraz packing and securing his place in a third major semi‑final. This marks his second semi‑final appearance at the US Open, following a similar feat in 2023, and his first at the Australian Open in 2025.
"That was a war," Shelton said afterward. "It’s the most enjoyable match I’ve ever played in my career." His comment captures the intensity of a contest that tested stamina, skill, and mental toughness. The semi‑finals are scheduled for Friday, 11 September, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The first match will feature Germany’s Alexander Zverev against Russia’s Karen Khachanov, kicking off at 3 p.m.
local time (8 p.m. in the United Kingdom). The second semi‑final, slated for 7 p.m.
local time (midnight in the UK), will see the all‑American showdown between Shelton and Tiafoe. Tiafoe’s path to the semi‑finals has been equally compelling. After dropping the first two sets and a break against fellow American Alex Michelsen, he mounted a spectacular comeback to win in five sets.
This victory propels him into his third US Open semi‑final, adding another chapter to a series of thrilling moments that have endeared him to the New York crowd. American fans have already collected a handful of iconic memories from Tiafoe’s career. In 2022, he stunned Rafael Nadal en route to the semi‑finals, delivering a "dragon‑slaying" performance that will be remembered for years.
Two years later, he faced Shelton in a high‑stakes match that produced a blockbuster win for the home crowd. Now, Tiafoe says he has evolved both on and off the court.
"I’m a different person now," he explained. "Those two runs to the semi‑finals were amazing and I’ll cherish them forever, but I’m not the same player I was in 2022 or 2024. I’m excited to see what this new version of me can do." His confidence is evident, and he adds, "I have higher expectations for myself.
The tournament is still alive, there’s a lot more tennis, more sets, more physical challenges. We’ll enjoy it, but we have to keep pushing forward." The narrative surrounding the men’s final has already taken shape. Alexander Zverev, the top seed, has now eliminated Ben Shelton, setting up a showdown between Zverev and the American hopefuls.
The final will be a historic moment for several reasons. The winner of the Tiafoe‑Shelton clash would become the first Black American man to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972, and the first Black American man to contest any major final since MaliVai Washington’s 1996 Wimbledon appearance. While the draw has been reshaped by the early exits of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz, Zverev has quietly continued his march. His most challenging opponent to date has been the 21st‑seeded Italian Luciano Darderi, the highest‑ranked player he has faced in this tournament.
Zverev dispatched world No. 70 Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets earlier in the week, demonstrating his readiness for the semi‑final clash with the unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov.
At 29, Zverev is a clear favorite to beat Khachanov, who is seeking his first Grand Slam final after semi‑final appearances at the US Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in 2023. Khachanov, unseeded for the first time in a major since 2018, has struggled with consistency this season, posting a 10‑15 record in other events and falling early in the three hard‑court majors before arriving in New York.
The head‑to‑head record between Zverev and Khachanov stands at nine meetings, with the German holding a 6‑3 advantage. Their most notable encounter came at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where Zverev won the gold‑medal match in straight sets. Their sole Grand Slam meeting occurred at the 2018 French Open, where Zverev rallied from a set down to claim a five‑set victory.
Zverev’s confidence stems from a breakthrough year: he captured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open and reached the Wimbledon final, cementing his status as world No. 2. He reflects on his progress, noting, "The more often you reach this stage, the more normal it feels, which is something you should never take for granted.
Confidence is crucial, but it can disappear in an instant. I learned that after Wimbledon, when my hard‑court form dipped, but I’ve found it again here.
I’m happy with how things are going and hope to play two strong matches." Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport praised Tiafoe’s recent resurgence, attributing it to a significant lifestyle overhaul and a new fitness regime adopted toward the end of last year.
She said, "It’s not easy for players to turn their lives around, but Frances has restructured everything around tennis. Watching him come back from two sets down shows the old Frances is gone; he’s now determined and fighting for every point." The broader tournament context includes several notable storylines.
British players Neal Skupski and Alfie Hewett secured their respective doubles and wheelchair titles, while Elena Rybakina cemented her position as world No. 1 by defeating two‑time champion Aryna Sabalenka. For fans wanting to follow the action, the US Open is broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30 onward.
Streaming options are available on NOW and the Sky Sports app without a contract, and the Laver Cup will also be shown live from The O2 in London later in September. In summary, the US Open semi‑finals present a blend of historic potential and personal transformation. Zverev aims to add another major title to his résumé, while the American duo of Shelton and Tiafoe strives to break a long‑standing drought for U.S. men’s tennis.
Whether the German will treat his upcoming match as a formality or face a genuine challenge from a revitalized home crowd remains to be seen, but the stakes—and the excitement—could not be higher.