Ben Shelton Aims for Glory Against Alexander Zverev in U.S. Open Final

In an electrifying U.S. Open semifinal, Ben Shelton triumphed over Frances Tiafoe, setting the stage for a showdown against Alexander Zverev in the final. With the American crowd rallying behind him, Shelton aims to break a long-standing Grand Slam drought for the U.S. since Andy Roddick's victory in 2003. Zverev, fresh off his French Open win, is determined to claim the title that eluded him in 2020. This final promises to be a thrilling encounter as both players seek tennis glory.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 12, 2026, 22:21 IST

Exciting Showdown at the U.S. Open

Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe captivated a star-studded audience as they battled for a spot in their first major final. The crowd was filled with celebrities, all cheering for their favorites.

On Sunday, Shelton is expected to have overwhelming support, as he represents the American hope to break a long-standing Grand Slam title drought.

Shelton secured a hard-fought victory with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 against Tiafoe and is set to face top seed Alexander Zverev for the U.S. Open championship. The last American man to win a major was Andy Roddick in 2003.

"I’m all in for this match, and I plan to give it my all on the court," Shelton expressed. "I hope everyone comes out to support me. Let’s make this happen for the USA." After defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a quarterfinal that concluded at 3:33 a.m., Shelton still had plenty of energy.

Now, he faces Zverev, the French Open champion, who is aware of the stakes involved.

"I hope to prevent the American dream from coming true on Sunday," Zverev remarked.

Zverev advanced by defeating Karen Khachanov with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) in the first semifinal.

The match drew a crowd that included sports icons like Serena Williams and Jalen Brunson, as well as actors such as Salma Hayek and Rami Malek, who is also Shelton's girlfriend.

"This is the moment we strive for: reaching the final stages of this tournament," said Shelton, a 23-year-old from Georgia who was just a baby when Roddick claimed his title. "This is our favorite tournament and court, and performing in front of this crowd is an incredible feeling."

Tiafoe, unfortunately, fell to 0-3 in U.S. Open semifinals, with his last two losses coming against fellow Americans. He was defeated by Taylor Fritz in 2024 before Fritz lost to Jannik Sinner.

"I aimed to reach a Grand Slam final, and this was a significant match," Tiafoe stated. "Ben played exceptionally well tonight, especially with his serves, which made it challenging for me." After a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Tiafoe initially played cleaner tennis, committing only three unforced errors compared to Shelton's 14.

However, after falling behind, Shelton increased his serving power, finishing with 20 aces.

During the second set, Shelton unleashed a 125 mph serve that sent Tiafoe reeling backward, followed by two more aces that secured him the lead.

The match's turning point occurred in the final game of the third set, where Tiafoe struggled to hold serve for over 15 minutes before ultimately faltering, leaving Shelton just one set away from victory.

Tiafoe had his own marathon match in the quarterfinals, coming back from two sets down and overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the fifth set against Alex Michelsen. The crowd was supportive of both players as the match progressed.

Zverev's Strong Comeback

Zverev, who has long been regarded as one of the best male players without a major title, finally achieved that milestone at the French Open this year. He followed it up by reaching the Wimbledon final, where he lost to Sinner, and boasts a remarkable 24-2 record in Grand Slam matches this season.

"Sometimes, things just align, and I feel like I've faced many challenges at the major level. I was close so many times, and perhaps this year is meant to be my year, so I’m just enjoying my time on the court," Zverev shared.

He is now determined to claim the title that slipped through his fingers in 2020 when he lost to Dominic Thiem after leading two sets to none.

Zverev has won 13 consecutive sets after being the first No. 1 seed to play five-set matches in the opening rounds of a major.

Khachanov aimed to reach his first major final after an unexpected run in New York, entering the tournament with a losing record for the season. He was looking to become the lowest-ranked U.S. Open finalist since the ATP rankings began in 1973.

Earlier in the tournament, Zverev had to battle through tough matches against Lorenzo Sonego and Quentin Halys, spending nearly 9.5 hours on the court.

He humorously reflected on his struggles after the second match, saying, "That sense of humor helped me. I started playing much better tennis afterward. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in the U.S. Open final."