American Shelton to face Zverev in US Open final

Ben Shelton secured his place in the US Open men’s final with a four‑set victory over fellow American Frances Tiafoe, overcoming a first‑set loss to win 4‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 7‑5 in a three‑hour‑17‑minute semi‑final on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 23‑year‑old eighth seed, who had previously fallen short in two Grand Slam semi‑finals, rallied with 47 winners and 20 aces, ultimately breaking Tiafoe’s serve at 6‑5 in the fourth set to claim three match points; a double fault from Tiafoe sealed the win. Shelton will now meet top seed Alexander Zverev, who dispatched unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6‑3, 7‑6(9‑7), 7‑6(8‑6) to reach his third consecutive Grand Slam final and chase a second major title of the year.

The win ends a 23‑year drought for an American man in a Grand Slam final, a stretch that began after Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph. Only six American men have reached a major final since then, most recently Taylor Fritz in 2022. Shelton’s triumph follows a stunning quarter‑final upset of Carlos Alcaraz, and his performance was highlighted by a 77 % first‑serve point win rate and a 62 % success rate on Tiafoe’s second serve. In his post‑match interview, Shelton paid tribute to his late grandmother and the victims of the September 11 attacks, calling the tournament “our favourite court in the world” and urging the crowd to bring energy for the Sunday showdown.

Zverev, the 29‑year‑old German, entered the final after a season in which injuries sidelined both defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world‑number‑one Jannik Sinner, allowing him to dominate the latter stages of the tournament without dropping a set. He had a slow start, pushing his first two matches to five sets, but found consistency, saving two set points against Khachanov and winning the match in straight sets. Zverev’s recent résumé includes a French Open title in June and a Wimbledon final appearance in July, underscoring his resurgence. He joked about his early‑round form, saying his team laughed at his play at 3 a.m. after the second round, a humor that he credits for helping him reach the US Open final. The upcoming clash pits Shelton’s youthful fire and home‑court support against Zverev’s experience and recent Grand Slam success, setting the stage for a potential historic American victory or a continuation of Zverev’s bid for a second major title this year.

⚡ Effects Interpreter