Ben Shelton mounted an impressive comeback against fellow American Frances Tiafoe on Friday evening, overturning a set deficit to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 victory in a thrilling US Open semi-final. The eighth-seeded Shelton will now face top seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday's championship match, giving the home nation a genuine chance to end its 23-year drought without a men's singles Grand Slam champion.
The semi-final took place on an emotionally charged evening, as the tournament paused to honour the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Shelton's triumph represents a landmark moment for American tennis, as no male player from the country has claimed a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick's triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2003.
Tiafoe, seeded 11th, began with aggressive intent and capitalised on a Shelton double fault to establish a 5-4 lead before holding serve to claim the opening set. The American continued targeting his opponent's relatively weaker backhand throughout the second set, but Shelton responded by elevating his intensity and drawing level at one set apiece.
The momentum shifted decisively in Shelton's favour during the third set. Breaking in the fifth game, the 21-year-old built a commanding position and maintained his grip on the match through a high-octane fourth set. Shelton's booming left-handed serve proved devastating, and his impenetrable defence in the closing stages allowed him to apply relentless pressure and secure his maiden Grand Slam final appearance.
Shelton's path to the final included a remarkable five-set upset of Carlos Alcaraz that finished at 3:33 a.m., the latest conclusion in U.S. Open history. This victory made him only the second American man in the last two decades to beat a top-three opponent at the U.S. Open, after Tiafoe's win over Rafael Nadal in 2022.
Zverev powers past Khachanov without dropping a set
In the other semi-final, Zverev dismantled Karen Khachanov with a commanding 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) performance, extending his remarkable run through the tournament. The German top seed has now won four consecutive matches without surrendering a set, reaching his third consecutive Grand Slam final.
This represents Zverev's second appearance in a US Open final, having finished as runner-up in 2020 when Dominic Thiem claimed the title. The 29-year-old's path to the championship match has been particularly impressive given that he struggled during his opening two rounds, requiring five sets to advance on both occasions.
Reflecting on his turnaround, Zverev revealed the mental shift that sparked his resurgence.
After the second round at 3am, me and my team were in the dressing room actually laughing at how bad I was playing. That sense of humour helped me,he said on court.
I have improved a little bit, otherwise I wouldn't be in the US Open final.
Against Khachanov, Zverev required only a single break to claim the opening set. When he broke again at the start of the second set, a routine victory appeared likely. However, a double fault allowed Khachanov back on serve, forcing Zverev into a tightly contested tie-break. Trailing 5-3 in that tie-break, Zverev recovered through a gruelling 35-shot rally before ultimately prevailing 9-7.
The third set followed an identical pattern, with Khachanov earning set points at 6-4. Two wayward forehands from the Russian and a Zverev ace proved decisive, with the German converting match point at the first opportunity.
From early struggles to championship contention
Zverev has capitalised on a favourable draw following the withdrawals and defeats of several top contenders. Jannik Sinner's absence due to injury, combined with early exits for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, has cleared a path for the German to reach the final. Despite his early-round struggles, Zverev has demonstrated remarkable improvement as the tournament has progressed.
I really started off the tournament, and I was like, 'Well, this is pointless because I'm not going to do anything here,' and here I am sitting and preparing for a Sunday final,Zverev told reporters, reflecting on his initial pessimism.
Throughout the tournament, Zverev had been confined to night sessions, existing in what he described as a perpetual loop of darkness and midnight finishes. This scheduling disadvantage made his progression all the more noteworthy, as he managed to maintain his form despite the demanding late-night matches.
Zverev relishes the prospect of a partisan crowd
Rather than viewing the home crowd as an obstacle, Zverev expressed enthusiasm about the atmosphere awaiting him on Sunday.
I think it's going to be a fantastic feeling playing, you know, a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe and not in an empty one. For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as they're fair.
Sky Sports Tennis analyst Martina Navratilova offered her assessment of Zverev's remarkable campaign at the majors this season.
What a year Zverev has had at the majors. It's been outstanding stuff. Okay, Sinner lost early at the French Open and Alcaraz didn't play, but there are no asterisks, he still had to get through even as a favourite. And that has given the confidence to play better tennis after that. I think he played better at Wimbledon than he did at Roland Garros, and now he started off badly here by his own admission, but he hasn't lost a set the last four matches.
The road to Sunday's final
The men's singles final will take place on Sunday, 13 September at 2:00 PM at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The championship match will conclude the tournament weekend, following the women's singles final on Saturday, 12 September.
Shelton's journey to the final has captured the imagination of American tennis fans, offering genuine hope of ending the nation's quarter-century wait for a men's Grand Slam champion. Zverev, meanwhile, seeks to claim his second major title and prove that his resurgence at the majors represents a genuine return to form rather than a temporary run of good fortune.
