Ben Shelton defeats Frances Tiafoe to book US Open final spot
American No. 8 seed Ben Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the US Open semifinal, advancing to face Alexander Zverev in the final.
Ben Shelton, the tournament's No. 8 seed, overcame Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the US Open men's semifinal on Saturday, securing a place in the final against top seed Alexander Zverev. The win marked the first all-American men’s semifinal at the event in two decades and the first meeting between two Black players at this stage.
Shelton, who became the highest-ranked American man in the draw, said he felt unusually calm during the match and relied on confidence to stay competitive. > "I think I was honestly shocked with how calm I was out there today, especially towards the end of the match," he said.
The 23-year-old posted 47 winners to Tiafoe's 27 and held a 20-3 advantage in aces, despite committing 14 unforced errors in the opening set. Tiafoe, the No. 11 seed, acknowledged his opponent's performance, noting the difficulty of the contest. > "It’s a tough one," he said.
Shelton's victory puts him one match away from becoming the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first Black US Open champion since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He will join fellow American Taylor Fritz as the only active U.S. men in a Grand Slam final.