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.
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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.
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.
Shelton Overcomes Tiafoe After Dropping Opening Set
Tiafoe struck first Friday, taking the opening set 6-4 before Shelton began finding the combination of power, serving accuracy and aggressive baseline tennis that carried him through the tournament.
Shelton answered with consecutive 6-3 sets.
His performance reached another level in the third.
Shelton produced 12 winners and landed 82% of his first serves in the set. He broke Tiafoe in the fifth game with consecutive backhand passing shots before surviving a marathon 15-minute game featuring seven deuces to secure another break.
By then, momentum had shifted decisively.
Shelton continued applying pressure throughout the fourth set before breaking Tiafoe in the final game to close out the match 7-5 rather than allowing his countryman to force a tiebreak.
His serve was one of the defining weapons of the semifinal.
Shelton landed 75% of his first serves, fired 20 aces and finished with 47 winners to Tiafoe’s 27.
Those numbers helped explain how he recovered from losing the first set and controlled much of the match thereafter.
Shelton and Tiafoe Add Another Chapter to US Open Rivalry
The semifinal represented another chapter in one of American tennis’ emerging rivalries.
Shelton improved to 4-1 against Tiafoe overall and took a 2-1 advantage in their US Open meetings.
Shelton defeated Tiafoe in the 2023 quarterfinals during his breakout run to his first major semifinal. Tiafoe answered by eliminating him from the 2024 US Open.
Three years after that first semifinal appearance, Shelton believes he is a different competitor.
“I think I’ve grown up. I’m more mature, more focused,” Shelton said. “I know what my goal is. I know what my job is out here, and I’m 100% committed to those goals.”
That maturity has been tested throughout a demanding fortnight.
Shelton entered Friday’s semifinal after stunning defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a match that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Any questions about how quickly he could recover disappeared once Shelton settled into Friday’s match.
A Historic Night for Black American Tennis
The significance of Shelton’s achievement extends beyond his first appearance in a major championship match.
Ashe won the inaugural US Open of the Open Era in 1968 and returned to the final in 1972. More than half a century later, Shelton has become the next Black American man to play for the men’s singles championship in New York.
His family also has its own place in Black tennis history.
Shelton is coached by his father, Bryan Shelton, a former professional who in 1991 became the first Black American man since Ashe in 1978 to capture an ATP Tour singles title.
After Friday’s victory, Shelton reflected on the sacrifices that made his opportunity possible, including those of his late grandmother.
“My dad, my mom sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today,” Shelton said. “My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason that he was able to play tennis. Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. This one is for her.”
For the Shelton family, Sunday now presents an opportunity to add another milestone.
Shelton vs. Zverev for the US Open Championship
The final challenge could be Shelton’s toughest.
Zverev advanced by defeating Karen Khachanov in Friday’s first semifinal and owns a 5-0 career record against Shelton.
That history gives Shelton an obvious problem to solve.
But the American who will face Zverev on Sunday has already survived a difficult path through New York, including his victory over defending champion Alcaraz and Friday’s comeback against Tiafoe.
Shelton’s biggest opportunity could begin with the same weapon that powered him into the final: his serve.
When Shelton consistently lands his first delivery, his combination of velocity, placement and left-handed angles can dictate points before opponents establish themselves in rallies. Against Zverev, maintaining that pressure while limiting opportunities on second serves will be critical.
Shelton also has demonstrated a willingness to attack from the baseline and move forward when opportunities emerge, rather than relying exclusively on overwhelming opponents with power.
The final therefore represents more than an opportunity for revenge against an opponent he has never defeated.
It is Shelton’s chance to alter the direction of American men’s tennis.
One Victory From Ending a 23-Year American Drought
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Ashe, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Roddick were among the American champions who made deep runs at majors an expectation rather than an exception.
That era disappeared after Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero for the 2003 US Open championship.
American players have threatened to break through since, but none has captured a men’s major singles trophy.
He will also have Arthur Ashe Stadium behind him.
“You’re playing in front of all your favorite athletes and movie stars, so to be able to keep your head down and focus for over three hours is not an easy task,” Shelton said after Friday’s celebrity-filled semifinal.
He even caught himself looking toward the stadium video board and noticing New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
“Oh, shoot, Jalen Brunson’s here,” Shelton recalled thinking.
Sunday, there will be considerably more at stake.
Shelton asked the New York crowd for one more push.
“We’re going for it here,” he said. “I’m gonna leave it all on the court.”
Twenty-three years after Roddick lifted the trophy in New York and 58 years after Ashe became the tournament’s first Open Era champion, Shelton has placed himself one match from adding his own name to American tennis history.
This time, there is nowhere left to advance except the winner’s circle.
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-- By Jasmine Thomas
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