Ben Shelton defeats Frances Tiafoe to reach U.S. Open final
The 23-year-old American beat fellow U.S. player Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals and will meet Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s championship match.
Ben Shelton, a 23-year-old American, advanced to his first Grand Slam final after overcoming Frances Tiafoe in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday. Shelton rallied from a first-set loss to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, securing a place against Germany’s No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev in the Sunday final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match featured several momentum shifts. After dropping the opening set, Shelton increased his serve speed and reduced unforced errors, taking the second set and maintaining pressure through aggressive backhand returns and forehand winners. Tiafoe fought back in the fourth set but missed a crucial serve, allowing Shelton to close the match.
Shelton, who previously reached the semifinals at the 2023 U.S. Open and the 2025 Australian Open, had earlier upset world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal. His performance this week has drawn attention to the potential end of a 23-year period without an American male Grand Slam champion.
"A beast," former opponent Carlos Alcaraz reportedly said of Shelton after their earlier encounter.
The victory marks a notable moment for American men’s tennis, as Shelton joins a new generation of players seeking to break a long title drought.