Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance on Friday, overcoming his fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a high‑octane US Open semi‑final to earn a place in the championship match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. The encounter unfolded on a night that carried a somber undertone, as the tournament opened with a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Shelton, who fell behind early, rallied from a set down to clinch the match 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving one step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. The last US male champion was Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003.
Shelton's achievement is historic in another way: he becomes the first Black American to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972. Meanwhile, Zverev secured his own spot in the final with a straight‑sets victory over fellow German Karen Khachanov, winning 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6) and positioning himself for a second Grand Slam crown.
In post‑match comments, Shelton expressed his motivation and sense of responsibility: "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." His words reflected both personal ambition and a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the tragedy commemorated that evening.
The semi‑final itself was a roller‑coaster. Tiafoe surged ahead 5‑4 after Shelton double‑faulted, then used a strong service game to capture the opening set. In the second set, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton's backhand, but Shelton's own serve began to turn the tide. At 2‑1, he believed he had unleashed a 158 mph bullet – potentially the fastest serve in Grand Slam history – but a subsequent Hawk‑Eye review by the USTA corrected the speed to 144 mph.
Undeterred, Shelton kept the pressure on, delivering serves in the 125‑140 mph range and using the fresh balls at 3‑3 to dominate the rally. He broke Tiafoe in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a comfortable lead that he never relinquished. Shelton's left‑handed power serve and rock‑solid defense proved decisive in the fourth set, where he maintained relentless intensity and eventually sealed the match.
The 23‑year‑old finished with 47 winners, including 20 aces, a performance that underscored his emerging status as a formidable contender on the biggest stage. Statistically, Shelton's serve placed him among the elite.
While Andy Roddick still holds the US Open record with a 152 mph serve recorded in 2002, and Sam Groth holds the all‑time Challenger record at 163.6 mph, Shelton's speed and consistency were more than enough to out‑fire his opponent on the day. On the other side of the draw, Zverev's path to the final has been marked by resilience and a series of grueling five‑set battles in the early rounds. After those initial tests, he has won his last four matches in straight sets, showcasing a level of play that has taken him to his third consecutive major final.
Zverev, who was runner‑up at the 2020 US Open to Dominic Thiem, reflected on his journey: "After the second round at 3 am, my team and I were 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." The German veteran has spent most of his tournament in the night sessions, adapting to the darkness and late finishes that have become a hallmark of his recent Grand Slam runs. With Jannik Sinner absent and early exits for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, Zverev has taken advantage of a relatively favorable draw, yet he acknowledges the difficulty of his achievement.
"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," he told reporters. In his semi‑final against Khachanov, Zverev needed only a single break to edge the first set, and an early break in the second set set the tone for a routine afternoon. However, a double fault from Zverev allowed Khachanov back on serve, leading to a tense tie‑break where Zverev trailed 5‑3 before clinching it after a marathon 35‑shot rally.
The third set mirrored the previous one, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4, only for Zverev to rescue the match with two errant forehands and a decisive ace that gave him match point, which he converted on the first attempt. Looking ahead to the final, Zverev expressed enthusiasm about playing in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium rather than an empty one. "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," he said.
Former tennis great Martina Navratilova, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Zverev's consistency over the season: "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 stage is now set for a compelling US Open final that pits the rising American star Shelton, who carries the hopes of a nation eager for a homegrown champion, against the experienced German Zverev, who is seeking to add a second Grand Slam title to his résumé.
Both players have demonstrated remarkable poise under pressure, powerful serving, and a willingness to seize the moment. As the final approaches, fans worldwide will be watching closely to see whether Shelton can break the 23‑year American drought or whether Zverev will cement his place among the sport's elite by capturing his second major trophy.