Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance on Friday, overcoming his fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a pulsating US Open semi‑final to earn a place in the championship match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev. The evening was charged with emotion, as the tournament opened with tributes marking 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 one step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to claim a Grand Slam singles title.
The last U.S. male champion was Andy Roddick, who lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Shelton’s victory also makes him the first Black American to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972.
In the other semi‑final, Alexander Zverev secured his spot in the final with a straight‑sets win over Karen Khachanov, posting a 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6) scoreline and edging ever closer to a second Grand Slam crown. 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." The match 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, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton’s backhand, but Shelton’s own serve began to tell a different story. At 2‑1, Shelton believed he had unleashed the fastest serve ever recorded at a Grand Slam, clocking what he thought was a 158 mph bullet.
A subsequent Hawk‑Eye review, however, confirmed the speed at 144 mph. When fresh balls were introduced at 3‑3, Shelton answered with a 125 mph serve that forced Tiafoe into a defensive posture, even sending his racket flying backward. He followed that with serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph, ratcheting up the intensity and leveling the playing field.
Shelton broke in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a commanding lead that he never relinquished. His powerful left‑handed serve and rock‑solid defense proved decisive in the high‑octane fourth set, allowing the eighth‑seeded American to apply relentless pressure and seal an emotional victory.
The 23‑year‑old finished the encounter with 47 winners, including 20 aces, cementing his place in the title match. For context, the all‑time US Open serve record belongs to Andy Roddick, who hit 152 mph in 2002, while the fastest serve ever recorded in any event was Sam Groth’s 163.6 mph at 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 French Open champion has now won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, advancing to his third straight major final. He previously finished runner‑up at Flushing Meadows in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem.
Reflecting on his journey, Zverev said, "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 has spent most of his tournament in night sessions, playing under lights and often finishing deep into the early morning. With Jannik Sinner absent and early exits from Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, Zverev capitalized on a relatively favorable draw to reach yet another Grand Slam final.
He admitted that at the start of the tournament he thought, "Well, this is pointless because I'm not going to do anything here," yet here he is, preparing for a Sunday showdown. In his semi‑final against Khachanov, Zverev needed only a single break to clinch a tight first set. A second break early in the second set set the tone for a routine afternoon, but a double fault allowed Khachanov back on serve, forcing Zverev into a tense tie‑break.
He trailed 5‑3 before winning the tie‑break after a grueling 35‑shot rally. The third set unfolded similarly, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4.
Two errant forehands from Khachanov and a decisive Zverev ace gave the German match point, which he seized on the first opportunity. Looking ahead to the final, Zverev expressed enthusiasm about playing in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, saying, "I think it’s going to be a fantastic feeling playing a final in a sold‑out arena and not 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, noting, "What a year Zverev has had at the majors. It’s been outstanding stuff.
Sure, 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 the confidence to play better tennis. 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 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 catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also on Sky Sports.