Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are still on the hunt to become the first American men to lift a Grand Slam trophy since Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph at Flushing Meadows, as the US Open moves into its semi‑final round. Shelton’s dramatic win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the early hours of Wednesday produced the longest‑finishing match in the tournament’s modern history and propelled him into his third major semi‑final.
He had already reached the final four at the 2023 US Open and the 2025 Australian Open, cementing his reputation as a rising contender. "That was a war," Shelton said afterwards. "It’s the most enjoyable match I’ve ever played in my career." His words capture the intensity of a battle that lasted well past midnight and tested the stamina of both players.
The semi‑finals are slated for Friday, 11 September, with both matches set for Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alexander Zverev will face Karen Khachanov in the first encounter, scheduled for no earlier than 3 p.m.
local time (8 p.m. in the United Kingdom).
The second semi‑final, featuring the all‑American showdown between Shelton and Tiafoe, will tip‑off at 7 p.m. (midnight UK time).
Tiafoe’s path to the semi‑final has been equally dramatic. After dropping the first two sets and a break against fellow American Alex Michelsen, he rallied to claim the match, marking his third semi‑final appearance in a Grand Slam.
The New York crowd has already been treated to several memorable moments from Tiafoe: a stunning victory over Rafael Nadal on his way to the 2022 semi‑final, and a blockbuster win over Shelton two years earlier. This year, however, the Cincinnati runner‑up is determined to write a fresh chapter. "I’m a different person now," Tiafoe explained.
"Those two runs to the semi‑finals were amazing and I’ll always cherish them, 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." He added that his expectations have risen: "I have higher hopes for myself. The tournament is still on, there are many more sets to play and a lot more physical work to do.
We’ll enjoy it, but we have to keep pushing forward." In the other half of the draw, Alexander Zverev has been quietly building momentum while the rest of the men’s field has been in flux. With Jannik Sinner missing, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz already eliminated, Zverev has emerged as the most consistent presence. He recently dispatched the 21st seed Luciano Darderi, his highest‑ranked opponent of the tournament, and then beat world No. 70 Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets.
At 29, Zverev is now a strong favourite to overcome unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the opening semi‑final. Zverev’s head‑to‑head record against Shelton is flawless—he has won all five of their meetings—while he holds a 9‑1 advantage over Tiafoe, having lost only once in ten encounters. After capturing his first Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this year and reaching the Wimbledon final, the world No. 2 feels increasingly at home in the latter stages of major events.
"The more often you reach this stage, the more normal it feels," Zverev said. "You never take it for granted because confidence can change in a heartbeat. I learned that after Wimbledon, where I struggled on the hard courts, but I’ve found my rhythm again here. I’m happy with how things are going and I hope to play two solid matches in New York." Khachanov, meanwhile, is chasing his first Grand Slam final.
He reached the US Open semi‑final in 2022 and the Australian Open semi‑final in 2023, but this will be his first appearance in a major final. Unseeded for the first time since 2018, Khachanov has shown consistency by reaching at least the third round of all four majors for the first time, though his recent form on hard courts has been mixed, with early‑round losses in the lead‑up events. The rivalry between Zverev and Khachanov dates back to the 1990s generation, with nine meetings to date and a 6‑3 edge in favor of the German. Their most notable clash came at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics final, where Zverev won in straight sets to claim gold.
Their only Grand Slam encounter prior to this US Open was at the 2018 French Open, where Zverev recovered from a set down to win in five. The winner of the Tiafoe‑Shelton semi‑final will achieve a historic milestone: the first Black American man to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and the first Black American man to contest any major final since MaliVai Washington’s 1996 Wimbledon appearance.
Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport commented on Tiafoe’s resurgence, noting the personal transformation the American has undergone after a difficult period last fall.
"It’s not easy for players to turn their lives around, but Frances has reshaped everything around tennis. Watching him battle back from two sets down shows a new level of determination," she said.
As the US Open approaches its climax, fans can tune in via Sky Sports, NOW, or the Sky Sports app for live coverage. The tournament, which began on August 30, continues to deliver compelling storylines, from the veteran German’s quest for another major title to the youthful American duo’s bid to end a long drought for U.S. men’s tennis. The final promises to be a showcase of skill, perseverance, and the enduring allure of Grand Slam competition.