Ben Shelton delivered a thrilling performance in the US Open semi‑final on Friday, overcoming his fellow American Frances Tiafoe to earn a place in the championship match against Germany's Alexander Zverev. The match unfolded on a night that was also marked by solemn tributes to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton rallied after dropping the opening set, turning a 4-6 deficit into a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory and moving a step closer to ending a 23‑year drought for an American man to win a Grand Slam singles title. The last U.S.
male to capture a Grand Slam title was Andy Roddick, who triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2003. Shelton now has the chance to become the first American champion in over two decades, and he also makes history as the first Black American to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972. Meanwhile, 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 that brings him within reach of a second major title.
The German, the eighth seed, has navigated a demanding path, including several five‑set battles early in the tournament, but has now won his last four matches without dropping a set. After the match, an emotional 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 resonated with the audience, who were reminded of the day’s commemorative tone. The semi‑final began with Tiafoe taking an early lead, breaking Shelton’s serve at 5-4 after a double fault from Shelton.
Tiafoe then held serve to claim the first set 6-4. In the second set, Tiafoe continued to target Shelton’s backhand, but Shelton responded with a powerful serve that he initially believed to be a record‑breaking 158 mph. Subsequent review by Hawk‑Eye and the USTA corrected the speed to 144 mph. When fresh balls were introduced at 3-3 in the second set, Shelton unleashed a 125 mph serve that forced Tiafoe into a defensive posture, even knocking the American back onto the court.
He followed that with serves clocking in at 144, 139, and 140 mph, raising the intensity and leveling the match. Shelton broke Tiafoe in the fifth game of the third set, establishing a commanding lead. His left‑handed serve, combined with solid defensive play, proved too much for Tiafoe in the high‑octane fourth set, allowing Shelton to close out the match. The 23‑year‑old American finished the encounter with 47 winners and 20 aces, a performance that underscored his growing reputation as a formidable server and aggressive baseliner.
By contrast, the record for the fastest serve at the US Open remains Andy Roddick’s 152 mph blast from 2002, while Sam Groth holds the overall fastest recorded serve at 163.6 mph in a Challenger event. Zverev’s journey to the final has been equally dramatic. After a grueling early‑round schedule that saw him play late‑night matches, the German capitalized on the absence of top competitors such as Jannik Sinner, as well as early exits by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. He described his early tournament mindset as "pointless" but later found himself preparing for a Sunday final.
Against Khachanov, Zverev secured a single break to take the first set, then extended his lead early in the second. A double fault from Khachanov gave the German an opportunity to serve for the match, but the set went to a tie‑break. Zverev trailed 5-3 in the tie‑break before rallying for a 35‑shot exchange that turned the tide.
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 gave him match point, which he converted on his first try. Looking ahead, Zverev expressed enthusiasm for playing the final in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, preferring a loud, supportive crowd over an empty arena. He noted, "A loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they're fair." Former tennis great Martina Navratilova, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Zverev’s consistency over the season: "What a year Zverev has had at the majors.
It's been outstanding stuff. He had to get through tough opponents even as a favourite, and that has given him confidence to play better tennis. He hasn't lost a set in his last four matches." The US Open final now promises a compelling narrative: a young, powerful American challenger seeking to end a two‑decade drought versus a seasoned German veteran aiming for his second Grand Slam crown.
Both players have shown resilience, powerful serving, and mental toughness throughout the tournament, setting the stage for a memorable showdown on Sunday. Fans can catch the final live on Sky Sports starting August 30, or stream the action via NOW and the Sky Sports app without a contract. The tournament also coincides with the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for 25‑27 September, which will also be broadcast on Sky Sports.