A Night Charged With Emotion on Arthur Ashe
Ben Shelton delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career on Friday night, coming from a set down to defeat compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in a three-hour, 17-minute semi-final at the US Open. The atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium crackled with energy as both Americans, bidding to reach their first Grand Slam final, combined for a jaw-dropping 74 winners on the night. Shelton alone struck 47 of those and fired 20 aces, continuing a stunning run that earlier included a five-set takedown of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
The evening carried added weight as it unfolded on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton addressed the crowd after the match, offering his thoughts to families affected by the tragedy, and also paid an emotional tribute to his late paternal grandmother, noting that without her support his father Bryan Shelton, a former ATP Tour professional, would never have played tennis at all. "This one is for her," Shelton said on court.
Historic Stakes Heading Into Sunday's Final
Shelton's victory makes him the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since Arthur Ashe did so in 1972. He now stands as only the second American male finalist at Flushing Meadows since 2010, joining Taylor Fritz, who reached the 2024 final but fell to Jannik Sinner. No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick's triumph at this same tournament in 2003.
Awaiting Shelton on Sunday is top seed Alexander Zverev, who defeated unseeded Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 in the other semi-final. Zverev is chasing his second Grand Slam title and arrives in a third consecutive major final. Shelton has lost all five previous meetings with Zverev, but the home crowd and the momentum from this run make him a genuine contender. TennisDraw users had Shelton as a bold but growing bracket pick throughout this fortnight.
