Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance on Friday, overcoming 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 evening was charged with emotion, beginning with a solemn tribute to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton, who had dropped the opening set, rallied to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving the United States a step closer to ending a 23‑year drought without a male singles Grand Slam champion.
The last American man to claim a Grand Slam title was Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Shelton now has the chance to become the first new American champion since that era.
In addition to the historic significance, Shelton also marked a personal milestone: he became the first Black American to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972. Earlier in the day, Zverev secured his spot in the final with a straight‑sets victory over Karen Khachanov, 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6), positioning himself for a potential second Grand Slam title.
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." His words underscored both the competitive drive and the broader emotional weight of the night. The match itself unfolded 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 a surge of power. At 2‑1, he believed he had unleashed the fastest serve ever recorded at a Grand Slam, clocking what he thought was 158 mph. Subsequent Hawk‑Eye analysis, however, corrected the speed to 144 mph.
Undeterred, Shelton kept the pressure on, delivering a 125 mph serve at 3‑3 that forced Tiafoe into a defensive swing, followed by serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph as the intensity escalated. Shelton broke in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a commanding lead. His left‑handed serve, now a weapon of both speed and accuracy, combined with rock‑solid defense to dominate the fourth set.
The eighth seed never relented, ultimately sealing the match with 47 winners, including 20 aces, and booking his ticket to the title match. Statistically, Shelton's serve ranks among the fastest ever recorded at the US Open. While Andy Roddick holds the tournament record at 152 mph (set in 2002), and Sam Groth's all‑time Challenger record stands at 163.6 mph, Shelton's performance placed him firmly in elite company.
On the other side of the draw, Zverev's path to the final had been equally dramatic. After being pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds, the German champion settled into a dominant run, winning four consecutive matches without dropping a set.
He now reaches his third straight major final, having previously been runner‑up at Flushing Meadows in 2020 to Dominic Thiem. Reflecting on his earlier matches, Zverev admitted, "After the second round at 3 a.m., my team and I were in the dressing 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." He added that the night‑time schedule – playing all his matches under lights – had become a familiar rhythm, a perpetual loop of darkness and midnight finishes. Zverev's run was also aided by the absence of several top contenders. Jannik Sinner withdrew, and both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic suffered early exits, clearing a path that, combined with a favorable draw, propelled the 29‑year‑old to another Grand Slam final.
"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 the semi‑final against Khachanov, Zverev needed only a single break to clinch the first set, then extended his lead early in the second.
A double fault gave Khachanov a lifeline, leading to a tense tie‑break where Zverev trailed 5‑3 before winning the set after a grueling 35‑shot rally. The third set followed a similar pattern; Khachanov held set points at 6‑4, but two errant forehands from the Russian and a decisive Zverev ace produced match point, which Zverev seized on his first opportunity.
Looking ahead, Zverev expressed enthusiasm about the final atmosphere: "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, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Zverev's year: "What a year Zverov has had at the majors.
It's been outstanding stuff. No asterisks – he still had to get through even as a favourite.
That confidence has translated into better tennis, and he hasn't lost a set in his last four matches." The US Open final promises a compelling narrative: a young, powerful American challenger seeking to end a two‑decade drought versus a seasoned German veteran aiming for his second Grand Slam crown. The match will 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 later in September, also shown on Sky Sports.