Ben Shelton Beats Frances Tiafoe, Reaches First Grand Slam Final at 2026 US Open

Shelton rallies past Tiafoe in four sets to become the first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972; top-seeded Alexander Zverev awaits Sunday.

NEW YORK | Ben Shelton has spent the 2026 US Open knocking down barriers, surviving late nights and proving that American men’s tennis may finally have another player ready to end a Grand Slam drought that has lasted more than two decades.

Now he is one victory away.

Shelton defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, advancing to the first Grand Slam final of his career and setting up a Sunday championship showdown against top-seeded Alexander Zverev.

The No. 8 seed became the first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 — an achievement made all the more poignant inside the stadium bearing Ashe’s name.

For Shelton, however, history is not the finish line.

The 23-year-old is chasing something American men’s tennis has waited 23 years to celebrate: a Grand Slam singles champion.

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a major, capturing the 2003 US Open. Shelton can end that drought Sunday.

And after what he has already accomplished in New York, he will arrive at the final believing he can.

Alabama Soccer Blanks Auburn 1-0, Extends Iron Bowl of Soccer Run to Seven Straight Seasons

Kennedy Garcia scores her first SEC goal and first career game-winner, while Madi Munguia makes five saves as the Crimson Tide opens conference play with a road shutout.

🎵Spend My Dollar…🎵#RollTide pic.twitter.com/8Q8ZSxerTM

— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaSoccer) September 12, 2026

AUBURN, Ala. | Alabama soccer opened Southeastern Conference play by extending its hold on one of the program’s most important rivalry trophies.

Kennedy Garcia scored in the 33rd minute and goalkeeper Madi Munguia made five saves as Alabama shut out previously unbeaten Auburn 1-0 Friday night, sending the Iron Bowl of Soccer trophy back to Tuscaloosa for a seventh consecutive season.

Alabama improved to 8-1 overall and opened SEC competition with a victory, while Auburn fell to 4-1-3 with its first loss of the season.

The Crimson Tide is now 6-0-1 over its past seven Iron Bowl contests against Auburn, a stretch that includes three road victories and four shutouts.

For Alabama coach Wes Hart, the victory offered another example of a team capable of finding a path to a result even when it does not control every phase of the match.

“What I’ve said about our team all along is that we find ways to win,” Hart said. “I don’t think it was a great start to the game. Auburn probably had a little more control than us in the first half although we got the goal.”

By the final whistle, that one goal was all Alabama needed.

Auburn Volleyball Sweeps UIC as Belle Patrick, Anastasija Ivkovic Power Tigers in Chicago

Patrick delivers 16 kills, Ivkovic records a career-high seven blocks and Auburn dominates the second set to secure a straight-set road victory.

CHICAGO | Auburn volleyball needed resilience to survive a tense opening set against UIC. Once the Tigers escaped it, they took control.

Auburn opened its Chicago road swing Friday night with a straight-set victory over UIC, combining a balanced offensive attack with dominant play at the net to build momentum heading into the DePaul Invitational.

Belle Patrick led Auburn with 16 kills while hitting .406, and junior outside hitter Anastasija Ivkovic delivered a career performance with seven blocks to go along with eight kills.

Auburn also received eight kills and six blocks from middle blocker Havlicek as the Tigers turned an early battle into a three-set sweep.

“I’m happy to start the weekend with a win and continue the momentum on the road,” Auburn coach Brent Crouch said. “I would’ve liked to see a more consistent effort throughout the match, but I am happy with the way we responded in the second set.”

That response proved decisive.

UC San Diego Falls to New Mexico State in Five-Set Thriller Despite Dominant Blocking Performance

Molly McCluskey delivers 22 kills and a double-double, Gia Rivera posts a career-high 20 kills and Kaliya Ndiaye records 10 blocks as the Tritons suffer their third consecutive five-set loss.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. | For the third consecutive match, UC San Diego women’s volleyball pushed its opponent to a decisive fifth set. And for the third straight time, the Tritons came agonizingly close without getting the result they wanted.

New Mexico State rallied past UC San Diego 24-26, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11 Friday night at the Pan American Center, handing the Tritons another narrow five-set defeat despite a commanding advantage at the net.

UC San Diego fell to 2-5 overall, while New Mexico State improved to 5-4.

The Tritons outblocked the Aggies 14-5 and hit .244 for the match, but New Mexico State produced a 68-64 advantage in kills and seized control of the fifth set with a decisive five-point run.

The final result continued an unusual and frustrating stretch for UC San Diego. The Tritons have played three consecutive five-set matches and lost all three — despite being outscored by just one combined point across those contests.

Manya Saini Earns Sun Belt Women’s Golfer of the Week Honors After Career-Best Finish

Troy standout opens the season with a 1-under performance at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, firing a 5-under 66 and leading the field with 12 birdies.

TROY, Ala. | Manya Saini wasted little time making an impact in Troy’s new women’s golf season.

The fourth-year Trojan was named the season’s first Sun Belt Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week after shooting 1-under and recording a career-best fourth-place finish at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, the league announced Friday.

Saini’s season-opening performance was highlighted by a blistering 5-under 66 in the first round and a tournament-leading 12 birdies. The Ahmedabad, India, native entered the 54th and final hole tied for the individual lead before ultimately finishing fourth.

For Saini, the showing continued a strong stretch of golf dating to last season and provided Troy with an early individual highlight as the Trojans begin their fall schedule.