Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance on Friday, overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a gripping US Open semi‑final to earn a spot in the championship match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. The match unfolded on a night that carried a somber note, as the tournament opened with tributes marking 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 an American man to capture a Grand Slam singles title. Since Andy Roddick's triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2003, no male player from the United States has lifted a major trophy. Shelton's victory not only puts him in contention for his first Grand Slam crown but 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, Zverev secured his place with a straight‑sets win, 6‑3, 7‑6 (9‑7), 7‑6 (8‑6), over compatriot Karen Khachanov, edging closer to a second major title. 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 emotional weight of the occasion was evident, and Shelton's determination resonated with the crowd. The match began with Tiafoe taking the early initiative, breaking Shelton's serve to go up 5‑4 after a double fault from Shelton. Tiafoe then held serve to close out the first set.
In the second set, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton's backhand, but Shelton found his rhythm. At 2‑1, he believed he had unleashed the fastest serve in Grand Slam history, clocking a 158 mph bullet.
However, a subsequent review by Hawk‑Eye and the USTA confirmed the speed was actually 144 mph. With fresh balls at 3‑3, Shelton's serve surged again, reaching 125 mph on the first point, causing Tiafoe to react almost reflexively and stumble backward. He followed that with serves measured at 144, 139 and 140 mph, steadily increasing the pressure. Shelton broke in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a solid lead that he never relinquished.
His powerful left‑handed serve and rock‑solid defense proved decisive in the high‑intensity fourth set, where he applied relentless pressure to close out the match. The 23‑year‑old finished the encounter with 47 winners, including 20 aces, cementing his place in the title showdown. 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 a 163.6 mph serve in a Challenger event. Zverev, the French Open champion, entered the tournament having endured five‑set battles in his first two rounds, but he has now won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, propelling him to his third straight major final.
This will be his second US Open final after falling to Dominic Thiem in 2020. Reflecting on his journey, Zverev laughed about a rough second‑round performance, saying, "After the second round at 3 am, my team and I were in the dressing 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." All of Zverev's matches have been scheduled for the night session, meaning he has been playing in near‑darkness and often finishing after midnight. The 29‑year‑old has benefited from the absence of Jannik Sinner and early defeats of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as a favorable draw, to reach yet another Grand Slam final.
He admitted, "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 his semi‑final against Khachanov, Zverev secured a solitary break to clinch a tight first set, then broke again early in the second to look in control. A double fault from Khachanov gave him back his serve, leading to a tense tie‑break where Zverev trailed 5‑3 before winning after a grueling 35‑shot rally.
The third set mirrored the second, with Khachanov holding set points at 6‑4, but Zverev's two errant forehands and a decisive ace gave him match point, which he converted on the first try. Rather than fearing the partisan crowd that will fill Arthur Ashe Stadium 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, commenting 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 will continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via 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.