Ben Shelton powered through a thrilling US Open semi‑final on Friday, overcoming his fellow American Frances Tiafoe to earn a showdown with Germany’s Alexander Zverev for the championship. The match unfolded against a backdrop of solemn remembrance, as the tournament opened its evening with tributes marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton, who dropped the opening set, rallied to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving one step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to capture a Grand Slam singles title. The last U.S.
male champion was Andy Roddick, who lifted the Flushing Meadows trophy in 2003. Shelton’s achievement is historic in another way: he becomes the first Black American to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972.
Meanwhile, Zverev secured his place in the final by defeating fellow German Karen Khachanov 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6), positioning himself for a second Grand Slam crown. After the match, Shelton addressed the crowd, saying, “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 a 5‑4 lead in the first set after Shelton double‑faulted, then sealing the set with a confident hold.
Tiafoe continued to target Shelton’s backhand in the second set, but Shelton found a surge of power. At 2‑1, he thought he had unleashed the fastest serve ever recorded at a Grand Slam, clocking it at 158 mph.
A subsequent review by Hawk‑Eye and the USTA corrected the figure to 144 mph, still an impressive speed. When fresh balls were introduced at 3‑3, Shelton’s serve hit 125 mph, forcing Tiafoe to react defensively and even stumble backward.
He followed that with serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph, raising the intensity and leveling the match. Shelton broke in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a commanding lead that he would never relinquish.
His left‑handed serve, booming and accurate, combined with rock‑solid defence, allowed the eighth seed to apply relentless pressure in the high‑octane fourth set, eventually sealing an emotional victory. The 23‑year‑old finished the match with 47 winners, including 20 aces, cementing his spot in the title match.
For context, the fastest serve ever recorded at the US Open belongs to Andy Roddick (152 mph in 2002), while the all‑time record across all events is Sam Groth’s 163.6 mph in a Challenger tournament. Zverev’s path to the final has been equally dramatic. After being pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds, the German has now won four straight matches without dropping a set, earning his third consecutive major final. He previously finished runner‑up at Flushing Meadows in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem.
Reflecting on his second‑round performance, Zverev laughed, “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’ve improved a little bit, otherwise I wouldn’t be in the US Open final.” All of Zverev’s matches this tournament have taken place during night sessions, leaving him accustomed to the darkness and midnight finishes. The 29‑year‑old has benefited from the early exits of Jannik Sinner, as well as defeats of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, plus a relatively favorable draw, to reach a third straight Grand Slam final.
He told reporters, “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 semi‑final against Khachanov, a solitary break gave Zverev the edge in the first set, and an early break in the second set set the tone for a routine afternoon. However, a double fault allowed Khachanov back on serve, leading to a tense tie‑break in which Zverev trailed 5‑3 before clinching it after a grueling 35‑shot rally. The third set mirrored the second, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4, but Zverev’s two wayward forehands and a decisive ace produced match point, which he converted on the first opportunity.
Rather than fearing a partisan crowd on Sunday, Zverev expressed excitement: “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, speaking for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Zverev’s 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 him 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 US Open will continue to 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 from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports. The stage is set for a historic final that could finally deliver an American men’s Grand Slam champion after more than two decades, while Zverev aims to add a second major trophy to his résumé.