If you had told Ben Shelton he would play the second US Open semi-final of his career tonight in July, he might not have believed you. The 23-year-old had endured a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it first-round exit at Wimbledon and he was frustrated.
‘It’s been a weird season for me this year,’ Shelton admitted. He had three titles under his belt, but a string of early exits where it mattered – the majors and Masters. There were so many things that disappointed him in his game.
But two months is a long time in tennis. Shelton started August by defending his Canadian Open title, before taking his form to New York and beating Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night instant classic.
His meeting on Friday evening with fellow American Frances Tiafoe is not the first time he’s been at this stage. In 2023, he was a gregarious upstart one year into his career, with the unvarnished gifts, and ego, of a champion-in-waiting.
He had a controversial celebration: hanging up the phone on his opponents. He had hyped himself before the tournament saying he was looking to become someone players feared in the draw. And Shelton was, until Novak Djokovic hung up on him, winning in straight sets.
At 20 years old, Shelton had become box office. A tennis nepo-baby, Shelton is the son of former tour journeyman Bryan Shelton, but as a child, saw the family business as ‘boring’, preferring American football or basketball. It’s no stretch to imagine the left arm that provides his 146mph serve attached to an NFL quarterback. After he switched full focus to tennis at 13 however, Bryan now sits in his box as coach.
Add to family lore the draw of Shelton being one-half of one of America’s sportiest power couples. Since sliding into his Instagram DMs in early 2025, USWNT star Trinity Rodman – daughter of NBA legend Dennis – is a frequent fixture on tour, with Shelton pitchside for her Washington Spirit matches when the ATP’s gruelling schedule allows.
Ben Shelton’s courageous showing in his US Open quarter-final against Alcaraz has given him a shot at the final
The 23-year-old has reached this stage before in 2023 (left) – before Novak Djokovic hung up on him to win his 24th Grand Slam
Shelton is now frequently accompanied by his girlfriend Trinity Rodman – a blockbuster USA athlete in her own right
All this has brought Shelton attention, celebrity and riches – after three years wearing Roger Federer’s ON brand, he is reportedly set to ink a $10million deal with New Balance – but results? That’s where things get more complicated.
Shelton has been dogged by inconsistencies, particularly at the Grand Slams. In Paris, he has never made it past the fourth round, and Wimbledon’s 2025 quarter-final is an outlier amid early exits. Never mind that he has titles on both of the natural surfaces. When asked to perform on the biggest stages, his standout attributes can turn into fatal flaws.
‘That’s the challenge, working with a guy like Ben, who is very aggressive,’ his father said in July. ‘There are times when he crosses that line and sabotages himself, and doesn’t make it to the second or third round of the tournament.’
But the win against Alcaraz showed the soaring height of his ceiling. The biggest weapon is his serve. Keeping himself in top condition to deploy it leaves him covered in cupping marks. Shelton is devoted to the traditional Chinese medicine technique for recovery and would sooner skip tending to his arm than Samson would book in for a buzzcut.
Shelton is also a superior athlete, and proved he was able to match Alcaraz’s lightning-quick movement with his own work-rate, chasing down shots which should have been impossible, and getting them back over the net with flair.
If Shelton can play like he did against the Spaniard twice more, he could end America’s 23-year wait for a home men’s Grand Slam winner. But to do that, he has to pass another psychological test by defeating his close friend Tiafoe. Tiafoe is a three-time finalist and a fellow showman who saves his very best for his home Slam.
Like Shelton, Tiafoe saw out his own five-set comeback epic to reach the semi-finals, and having met twice before, their head-to-head at the tournament sits tantalisingly at one win apiece.
He has met US Open semi-final rival – and fellow American – Frances Tiafoe twice before at their home Grand Slam (pictured in 2023)
After beating Alcaraz, Rodman prompted Shelton to bring back his once-iconic celebration – his confidence has hit new heights at just the right time
The final series of their trilogy has added potency, their clash guaranteeing a Black US Open men’s finalist for the first time on Arthur Ashe since, well, Arthur Ashe in 1972. History is on the line.
But Shelton’s form has been cresting, and he will come into their contest buoyed up by his meeting with Alcaraz with lethal confidence.
At 3.34am on Wednesday morning, Shelton looked up to his player’s box. There, Rodman cheekily picked up the phone, like it was 2023 again. Shelton has learned a lot in three years. But he still answered.
