Ben Shelton clinched a dramatic victory over fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semi‑final on Friday, earning a place in the championship match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. The evening was steeped in emotion, beginning with tributes to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton, who fell behind early, rallied to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5, moving one step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for a U.S. man to capture a Grand Slam singles title.
The last American male champion was Andy Roddick, who triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003, and Shelton now has a realistic shot at becoming the next. In addition to his personal milestone, Shelton also made history as the first Black American to reach a US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972. Across the draw, Zverev secured his own final berth by defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets, 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6), positioning himself for a potential second major title.
After the match, Shelton addressed the crowd: "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 personal stakes and the broader national significance of the event. The semi‑final itself was a roller‑coaster. Tiafoe surged ahead 5‑4 in the opening set after Shelton double‑faulted, then held serve to take the first set.
In the second set, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton's backhand, but Shelton's own serve became a weapon. At 2‑1, Shelton believed he had unleashed a 158 mph serve – a speed that would have eclipsed the Grand Slam record – but Hawk‑Eye and USTA verification later corrected the figure to 144 mph. Undeterred, Shelton kept the pressure on, delivering serves in the 125‑144 mph range and rattling Tiafoe into defensive positions. The tide turned in the third set when Shelton broke in the fifth game, establishing a commanding lead.
His left‑handed, booming serve combined with rock‑solid defense proved decisive in the high‑intensity fourth set, where he eventually sealed the match. The 23‑year‑old finished with 47 winners and 20 aces, a testament to his aggressive style and growing confidence. Shelton's serve speed figures sparked discussion among fans.
While his 144 mph serve was impressive, the all‑time US Open serve record remains Andy Roddick's 152 mph from 2002, and the fastest recorded serve in any professional event belongs to Sam Groth's 163.6 mph at a Challenger tournament. Nonetheless, Shelton's power and consistency were enough to overcome Tiafoe's relentless baseline play. On the other side of the draw, Zverev's path to the final was marked by resilience. After early round battles that stretched to five sets, the 29‑year‑old German has now won four consecutive matches without dropping a set.
He reached his third straight major final, having been runner‑up at the US Open in 2020 to Dominic Thiem. Zverev reflected on his journey, recalling a low point after a second‑round loss: "After the second round at 3 am, 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 semi‑final against Khachanov was a showcase of mental fortitude.
He secured an early break to claim the first set, then broke again at the start of the second. A double fault from Khachanov gave the Russian a brief reprieve, leading to a tense tie‑break where Zverev trailed 5‑3 before rallying with 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 fire two wayward forehands and an ace that produced a match point, which he converted on his first attempt. Looking ahead to Sunday, Zverev expressed excitement rather than apprehension about playing before a partisan crowd: "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 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 final promises a compelling clash between the rising American star Shelton, who carries the hopes of a nation yearning for a new male Grand Slam champion, and the experienced German Zverev, who seeks to cement his place among the sport's elite.
Both players have demonstrated powerful serving, tactical adaptability, and mental resilience throughout the tournament. As the final approaches, tennis fans worldwide will be watching to see whether Shelton can fulfill his rallying cry, "Let's do this for the USA!", or if Zverev will add a second major trophy to his résumé.