Ben Shelton has secured a spot in the US Open men’s final after defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a competitive semifinal match on Friday. The eighth-seeded Shelton won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, advancing to his first Grand Slam championship appearance. His opponent in Sunday’s final will be top-seeded Alexander Zverev, who defeated unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) earlier that day.
Shelton’s victory marks a significant milestone for American tennis. The 23-year-old left-handed player would become the first American man to claim a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003, ending a 23-year drought for the country. Additionally, Shelton made history as the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam final at the US Open since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
The defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fell to Shelton in the quarterfinals, demonstrating the rising player’s competitive capabilities. Zverev, a French Open winner, has been on an impressive run through the tournament, winning his last four matches without dropping a set. This will be Zverev’s third consecutive Grand Slam final appearance and his second US Open final, having finished as runner-up in 2020.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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