Ben Shelton secured a dramatic victory over fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi‑final on Friday, earning the right to face Alexander Zverev in the championship match. The encounter unfolded on a night that also marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, prompting Shelton to dedicate his performance to the victims and their families.
After dropping the opening set 4‑6, Shelton rallied to take the next three sets 6‑3, 6‑3 and 7‑5, closing out the match and moving one step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. The last U.S. male champion at Flushing Meadows was Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy in 2003. Shelton’s run not only revives hopes of an American victory but also makes him the first Black American to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972.
Earlier in the day, Germany’s Alexander Zverev booked his place in the final with a straight‑sets win over compatriot Karen Khachanov, 6‑3, 7‑6(9‑7), 7‑6(8‑6). The victory brings Zverev within striking distance of a second Grand Slam crown after his runner‑up finish in 2020. When asked about his performance, 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 at 5‑4 after Shelton double‑faulted. Tiafoe then held serve to claim the first set.
In the second set, Shelton shifted tactics, repeatedly targeting Tiafoe’s backhand. Midway through the set, Shelton believed he had unleashed the fastest serve ever recorded at a Grand Slam, clocking it at 158 mph.
Subsequent Hawk‑Eye analysis, however, corrected the figure to 144 mph. With fresh balls at 3‑3 in the second set, Shelton unleashed a 125 mph serve that forced Tiafoe into a defensive posture, even causing him to stumble backward. He followed that with serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph, raising the intensity and leveling the score. Shelton broke Tiafoe in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a decisive lead that he never relinquished.
The eighth‑seeded American’s left‑handed power serve and rock‑solid defense proved too much for Tiafoe in a high‑octane fourth set. Shelton’s relentless pressure culminated in a 47‑winner performance, including 20 aces, sealing an emotional 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5 triumph and a place in the final. Historical context underscores the significance of Shelton’s run. Andy Roddick’s 152 mph serve in 2002 remains the fastest ever recorded at the US Open, while Sam Groth’s 163.6 mph serve in a Challenger event holds the overall record.
Shelton’s serve speeds, regularly topping 140 mph, place him among the most powerful modern servers. Zverev’s path to the final has been equally compelling. After being pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds, the German 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 early tournament struggles, 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.” Zverev’s campaign has largely unfolded during night sessions, a schedule that has kept him in a perpetual twilight of late‑night finishes.
The 29‑year‑old has also benefited from the absence of Jannik Sinner and early exits by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as a relatively favorable draw, to secure his spot in a third straight Grand Slam final. Speaking to reporters after his semi‑final win, Zverev admitted he had doubted his prospects early on, saying, “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 match against Khachanov, Zverev needed only a single break to clinch the first set, then extended his lead early in the second. A double fault by Khachanov gave the German a chance to serve for the match, but a tense tie‑break followed, with Zverev trailing 5‑3 before rallying through a 35‑shot exchange to take the set. The third set mirrored the second, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4, only for Zverev to produce two errant forehands and an ace that gave him match point, which he seized on the first opportunity.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final, Zverev expressed enthusiasm for a full stadium, 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.” Martina Navratilova, a commentator for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Zverev’s season, noting, “What a year Zverev has had at the majors. It’s been outstanding stuff. Yes, 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.
That has given him confidence to play better tennis. 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 in the last four matches.” The US Open final promises a compelling clash between the rising American talent of Shelton, who embodies a historic moment for Black American tennis, and the experienced German contender Zverev, eager to capture his second Grand Slam title.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app, and the Laver Cup will follow later in September at The O2 in London.