Ben Shelton will look to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam in 23 years after beating his close friend Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to book his place in the US Open final.
It was a heart-wrenching moment for Tiafoe, who played and lost his third semi-final inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, and misses the chance to become the first Black player to feature in a US Open men’s final since the legend who gave the court its name. Instead, that honour will go to Shelton, after another towering performance on the heels of knocking out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Tiafoe exited the stadium with a towel draped over his head to hide the waves of emotion. On the court, Shelton paid tribute to his ‘big brother’.
‘To be honest, every time we get to take this court together and play each other is super special,’ Shelton said. ‘To be able to light it up in front of you guys is the best feeling that there is.’
Shelton has not played at this stage in New York since 2023. ’I think I’ve grown up, I’m more mature, more focused,’ he said. ‘I know what my job is and I’m hundred percent committed.’
Now, he will play French Open champion Alexander Zverev. It is Shelton’s Grand Slam final debut, and Zverev’s sixth.
Ben Shelton will play his first Grand Slam final on Sunday after defeating Frances Tiafoe in his US Open semi-final
The 28-year-old has played and lost three semi-finals in New York and had taken the first set
’I’m going to need you guys on Sunday to bring the energy,’ he asked of the crowd. ‘I’m going for it here. I’m going to leave it all on the court. Let’s do this for the USA.’
Moved from the afternoon men’s semi-final slot to 7pm primetime, Tiafoe and Shelton delivered on their promise of a show, and more, playing four break-neck sets where there was little to separate their quality and nerve.
But as he showed against Alcaraz, Shelton has the weapons needed to wrench momentum with a clinical edge, and he took no more time than was necessary to down his countryman.
He did so as the slight underdog. Tiafoe has made the US Open his home, the crowd in his thrall as he regularly serves up big performance after big performance regardless of the form of his season. He thrives in the night sessions in particular, capable of hitting new levels under the lights.
Locked in amid a strong run of form in 2026, Tiafoe has rewarded them more than ever on this run, and despite loyalties being broadly divided between the two Americans, he remained the favourite by an edge.
He surfed on this wave through the first set, playing immaculate tennis while Shelton looked restless and struggled to settle. Tiafoe had his full bag of tricks on display, including a smart net game, while Shelton’s variety failed him in the early stages – with his drop shots undercooked, and forehands at times overeager.
What remained on song was his serve, that 140mph weapon that can be so fast as to be invisible. While Shelton was reeling off aces, Tiafoe was frequently sending down second serves. But the 28-year-old’s game stayed neat, with just three unforced errors played, while Shelton went up and down, peppering in double faults, the second of which earned Tiafoe the crucial break.
But if beating Alcaraz has taught Shelton anything, it’s patience. There is a confidence to his game that, in the wake of that momentous win, makes a comeback feel like nothing more than a waiting game.
Determined to speed things up, Shelton was in attack mode as he roared into the second set with a straightforward hold of his serve before a rapid break of Tiafoe’s.
Anything you can do, Tiafoe seemed to say, as he sent down a forehand which kissed the line and set up his first break point to love. He didn’t pull it off then, but the second attempt a point later was good.
Shelton and Tiafoe are close friends and embraced at the net, despite the older man’s visible pain at losing again
The 23-year-old’s girlfriend, soccer star Trinity Rodman, watched nervously from the stands
Among the notable faces in the stands were Knicks hero Jalen Brunson and actor Ben Stiller
The young American said that he has learned focus and commitment to his game since playing his last New York semi-final in 2023
Tiafoe is a dogged and creative returner and for much of the match there was little to separate the two stars
Shelton was swept up by his team, including his father and coach – and ex-pro – Bryan Shelton
Level on serve, Shelton gave the crowd their first big cry of amazement as the rallies grew longer, surviving 16 impossible shots until Tiafoe made the forehand error. With his blood up, Shelton bashed back a down-the-line winner for break point, and took it, snatching momentum back towards him and swiping the set.
The tennis, already miraculous, only improved into the third set. Seeing their champion fading, the crowd screamed their support for Tiafoe as he paused to serve, down set point. But as the players reset to deuce for the seventh, the older man could only hold off the onslaught for so long.
Tiafoe often came off the better in the longer exchanges but they took their toll as the third set wore on, and Shelton hoovered up shorter points. He looked visibly fatigued, and only marginally fresher stepping out for the fourth after the set break.
His mood was no better when chair umpire Aurelie Tourte failed to tell Shelton that Tiafoe wasn’t ready to receive at break point, advantage.
Tiafoe had held up his hands and said ‘sorry, sorry’, but when Tourte failed to speak up and Shelton sent down the serve, both players rounded on her.
‘Why didn’t you say something?’ Tiafoe queried, while Shelton snapped: ‘You’ve got to say something immediately!’
The point was replayed, but Tiafoe never got his chance back. Shelton had his game face on as he put away his second advantage with a smacked forehand straight towards Tiafoe. There was no apology that followed it, only a glare thrown in Tiafoe’s direction.
But Tiafoe didn’t take a step back and looked the more comfortable player in the early stages of the fourth as his first serve firmed up. As Shelton struck his 19th ace to make it 5-4 on serve, there were no problems there either.
The pressure was on Tiafoe, however, to serve and stay in the match, with the hope of winning that longed-for spot in his home Grand Slam final.
Despite Shelton climbing into the match at 40-30, it did not tell, with Tiafoe nerveless at the net to strike a forehand winner. It preceded an enormous yell from the Maryland-native.
But it was only a stay of execution. The next time he stepped up to serve, the crowd again screaming for him to keep fighting on, Tiafoe tightened up, and had to stare down three match point chances. Shelton only needed two, as Tiafoe sent down the fatal double fault.
