1. Shelton Reaches a Major Milestone
Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final after defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semifinal. The 23-year-old fought back from losing the opening set to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
2. A Comeback Against Tiafoe
Tiafoe made the stronger start, taking the first set and putting Shelton under early pressure. Shelton responded with greater consistency and used his powerful serve to shift momentum before closing out the match in four sets.
3. A Historic Night for American Tennis
Shelton’s victory carries significance beyond reaching his first major final. He becomes the first Black American man to reach a US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
4. The 23-Year American Wait
Shelton is now one victory away from ending a long wait for American men’s tennis. Andy Roddick was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, doing so at the 2003 US Open.
5. Zverev Stands in His Way
Standing between Shelton and the trophy is top-seeded Alexander Zverev. The German reached the final by beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 and is now appearing in his second US Open final.
6. Zverev Holds the Head-to-Head Advantage
The final presents a difficult challenge for Shelton. Zverev has dominated their previous meetings, while Shelton has yet to defeat him. However, Shelton’s run in New York—including a five-set win over Carlos Alcaraz—shows that he can compete with the world’s best.
7. A Final Full of History
The Shelton-Zverev final is more than a battle for the US Open trophy. Shelton is chasing a breakthrough title and a historic moment for American tennis, while Zverev is looking for another Grand Slam triumph after winning the 2026 French Open.