Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will continue their quest to become the first American men's Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick's 2003 triumph at Flushing Meadows as the US Open reaches its semi-final stage. Shelton sent defending champion Carlos Alcaraz packing in the early hours of Wednesday with the pair slugging it out in the latest-finishing match in tournament history as he reached his third major semi-final, having made the final four in the 2023 US Open and 2025 Australian Open. "That was a war," said Shelton.
"The most enjoyable match that I've had in my career." The US Open semi-finals will take place on Friday, 11 September, with both matches scheduled for Arthur Ashe Stadium Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov will meet not before 3pm local time (8pm UK time), while Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will take to court at 7pm (midnight UK time) Tiafoe recovered from two sets and a break down to beat compatriot Alex Michelsen, reaching the semi-finals for a third time in a thrilling fightback. The American has provided treasured memories for the home fans in New York, from his dragon-slaying defeat of Rafael Nadal en route to the 2022 semi-final, to his blockbuster win over compatriot Shelton two years ago. But the Cincinnati runner-up this year is ready to write a new chapter this time around, saying: "I'm just a different person in general.
Those two runs (to the semi-finals) were great, something I will cherish forever, but I'm not that person who I was when I made one in 2022 and when I made one in '24. I'm excited to see what this me does," said Tiafoe. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "I have higher hopes for myself.
The tournament is still going. There's a lot more tennis to be played, a lot more sets to be played, and a lot more physical things to be done. We're going to enjoy this, but we got to keep going." Tiafoe is enjoying a career resurgence having undertaken a big lifestyle change and fitness regime towards the end of last year.
Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport said: "If you hear their stories about last fall, and what a dark place Frances was in, he was willing to turn over, to try and give it his best shot. "It's not easy sometimes for players or people to do that, but he has kind of shifted everything in his life to revolve around tennis. "Now to watch him be able to go out there and compete from two sets down, like the old Frances doesn't necessarily (do), to stick his heels in and be like 'I'm not going anywhere' - I mean, he's fighting." The winner of Frances Tiafoe vs Ben Shelton will be the first Black American man to reach a US Open Final since Arthur Ashe (1972) and the first Black American man to reach any major final since MaliVai Washington (1996 Wimbledon) While the men's draw has fallen to pieces in the absence of Jannik Sinner and with Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz falling by the wayside, Alexander Zverev has been quietly going about his business.
Luciano Darderi, the 21st seed, is the highest-ranked player Zverev has faced, while he eased past world No 70 Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. The 29-year-old is a big favourite to beat unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov in the opening semi-final on Friday from 8pm on Sky Sports Tennis. Zverev has beaten Shelton in all five of their career meetings and has lost just one of his 10 matches against Tiafoe.
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