Ben Shelton roars past Tiafoe as he sets up a US Open final with Zverev
Ben Shelton finally broke through at the US Open, reaching his first Grand Slam final after defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The eighth seed recovered from a slow start to produce a composed performance to book a showdown with world number one Alexander Zverev.
The All-American semi-final was a hotly contested affair, but Tiafoe got off to a better start and took the opening set after finding a decisive break at 4-4. Shelton responded by constantly taking control, his submissions becoming increasingly difficult for Tiafoe to handle as the match moved into its decisive stages.
US OPEN 2026 MEN’S SINGLES SEMI-FINALS: HIGHLIGHTS
Shelton’s strength was matched by his patience throughout the competition. The 23-year-old repeatedly used his serve to break out of difficult situations and put Tiafoe on the back foot while finding ways to stay composed when the rallies became tougher.
The win marks another major step in Shelton’s rapid rise. He previously reached the semi-finals of the 2023 US Open but has now fared better in New York and will play his first Grand Slam final against Zverev.
TIAFOE STRIKES FIRST, SHELTON ANSWERS
The opening set remained very even, with neither player able to establish an early advantage. That changed at 4-4 when Tiafoe finally managed to apply sustained pressure on Shelton’s serve.
At 30-0, Shelton looked in control but Tiafoe responded with a powerful forehand winner before his compatriot served up a break after a string of errors, including a double fault. Tiafoe then comfortably served out the set to take a 6-4 lead.
Shelton immediately changed the pace in the second. He broke Tiafoe to love, and despite being broken with a straight back, he looked increasingly comfortable from the baseline. At 3-3, more aggressive play from Shelton brought up a break point and Tiafoe eventually sent a forehand wide to set.
Shelton didn’t let the opportunity slip away, closing out the set 6-3 to tie things up.
SHELTON’S SERVICE WILL BE THE MIDDLE STAGE
The third set belonged to Shelton. He soon found another break after forcing Tiafoe into errors and continued to dictate his first serve, repeatedly denying his opponent opportunities to build pressure.
Shelton appeared to produce one of the biggest submissions of the tournament. The van was originally set at 158 mph, but was adjusted to 144 mph after inspection. Still, it was a seriously quick serve and another reminder of the power Shelton brings to the court.
Tiafoe refused to give up the set and drew Shelton into an extraordinary final game that featured seven deuces and three set points. Shelton remained composed throughout the marathon exchange, eventually holding on after about 15 minutes to take the set 6-3.
The fourth set was a different pattern, with both players holding serve as the pressure mounted. Tiafoe rediscovered his forehand and first serve, while Shelton continued to rely on his biggest weapon whenever he got into trouble.
At 5-5, Tiafoe produced a sharp volley to stay alive, but Shelton responded by holding for 6-5. The breakthrough eventually came when Tiafoe double-faulted, handing Shelton the match and a place in his first Grand Slam final.
Shelton will now face Zverev, who defeated Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final. The German has won all five of their previous meetings, presenting Shelton with another significant challenge as he bids to become the first American since 2003 to win the men’s singles title at the US Open.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
12 Sep 2026 09:02 IST