Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling victory over his fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi‑final on Friday, earning the right to face Alexander Zverev in the championship match. The evening carried a solemn tone, opening with tributes to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton, after dropping the first set, rallied to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving a step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for a U.S.
man to capture a Grand Slam singles title. The last American male to triumph at Flushing Meadows was Andy Roddick in 2003, and Shelton now has a genuine shot at becoming the next champion. Shelton also made history by becoming the first Black American to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972.
On the opposite side of the draw, Germany’s Alexander Zverev secured his place in the final with a straight‑sets win, 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6), over Karen Khachanov, bringing him within reach of a second Grand Slam crown. 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 consolidated the break and closed out the first 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, Shelton believed he had recorded the fastest serve in Grand Slam history at 158 mph, but a subsequent Hawk‑Eye review confirmed the speed was actually 144 mph. With fresh balls at 3‑3, Shelton unleashed a 125‑mph serve that forced Tiafoe into a defensive posture, followed by a series of serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph.
The increased pace helped Shelton break in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a commanding lead. His powerful left‑handed serve and rock‑solid defense proved decisive in the high‑intensity fourth set, where he applied relentless pressure and eventually sealed the match.
The 23‑year‑old American finished the encounter with 47 winners, including 20 aces, cementing his spot in the title match. For context, the US Open record for the fastest serve belongs to Andy Roddick, who hit 152 mph in 2002, while the all‑time serve record is held by Sam Groth, who recorded 163.6 mph in a Challenger event.
Zverev’s journey to the final has been equally compelling. After being pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds, he has now won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, propelling him to his third straight major final.
He previously finished as runner‑up at Flushing Meadows in 2020, losing to Dominic Thiem. Reflecting on his performance, Zverev said, "After the second round at 3 a.m., my team and I were actually laughing about how badly 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 noted that all his matches this tournament have been played during night sessions, leaving him accustomed to late‑night finishes.
The German’s path was eased by the early exits of Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as a relatively favorable draw. He described his early expectations, "I really started off the tournament thinking it was pointless because I wasn’t going to do anything here, and here I am preparing for a Sunday final." In his semi‑final against Khachanov, Zverev secured a solitary break to take the first set, added another break early in the second, and seemed set for a routine victory.
However, a double fault gave Khachanov a lifeline, and Zverev was forced into a tense tie‑break, eventually prevailing after a 35‑shot rally. The third set mirrored the second, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4 before Zverev’s two errant forehands and a decisive ace gave him match point, which he converted on the first attempt. Looking ahead, Zverev expressed enthusiasm for the final, stating, "I think it’ll be a fantastic feeling playing a final in a sold‑out Arthur Ashe arena, not an empty one.
A loud, energetic crowd is always great, as long as they’re fair." 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. 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 confidence has helped him play better tennis.
He played better at Wimbledon than at Roland Garros, and even though he started poorly here by his own admission, he hasn’t lost a set in the last four matches." The US Open final is set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports beginning 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 an electrifying showdown between Shelton, the hopeful first American champion in over two decades, and Zverev, the seasoned German seeking his second Grand Slam title.