Ben Shelton defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe in an electric U.S. Open semi-final on Friday to secure a title showdown with Alexander Zverev. On a poignant evening that began with commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Shelton came from a set down to beat Tiafoe 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 and move closer to ending a 23-year American wait for a men's singles Grand Slam champion.
No home male player has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick triumphed in Flushing Meadows in 2003. Shelton will now have a chance to claim his maiden Grand Slam crown. He is the first Black American to reach the US Open Final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 Earlier, Zverev booked his place in the final with a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) victory against Karen Khachanov to move a step closer to a second Grand Slam title.
Shelton said: "First, 'Foe' is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament. "I know what my goal is, what my job is.
Let's do this for the USA! It's a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go to all the families who were impacted by 9/11." Tiafoe powered ahead 5-4 when Shelton produced a double fault, before raising the roof with a hold to bag the first set.
Tiafoe continued to target his opponent's backhand in the second set but serving with new balls at 3-3, Shelton started with a 125 mph serve - Tiafoe got his racket up almost in self-defence and ended up getting knocked backward to the court - and followed it with serves clocked at 144, 139 and 140, as he dialled up the intensity to draw level. He then broke in the fifth game of the third set to take a commanding lead in the match. With his booming left-handed serve and his defence proving impenetrable in the high-octane fourth set, eighth seed Shelton heaped the pressure on late to wrap up an emotional win.
The 23-year-old finished with 47 winners, including 20 aces, to book his place in the title match. Ben Shelton - 149 Ben Shelton - 148 Ben Shelton - 147 Ben Shelton - 147 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard - 145 Thiago Tirante - 145 Andy Roddick holds the all-time record at the US Open in 2002 at 152mph The record for the most powerful serve in history is held by Sam Groth with 163.6 mph in a Challenger event Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The French Open champion had been pushed to five sets in each of his opening two rounds but has now won four straight matches without dropping a set, as he reached his third consecutive major final. The victory sent him to his second title decider at Flushing Meadows, after finishing runner-up in 2020 to Dominic Thiem.
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