US Open: Ben Shelton takes down Frances Tiafoe to seal Alexander Zverev showdown in final on Sunday in New York

12.09.2026, 07:05 skysports.com

Ben Shelton ‌defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe in ‌an electric U.S. Open semi-final on Friday to ​secure a title showdown with Alexander Zverev.

On a poignant evening that began with commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of ​the September 11 attacks, Shelton ‌came from a set down to beat Tiafoe 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 and move closer ​to ending a 23-year ‌American wait for a men's singles Grand Slam ​champion.

No home male player has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick triumphed in Flushing Meadows in 2003. Shelton will now have a chance to claim his maiden Grand Slam crown.

He is the first Black American to reach the US Open Final since Arthur Ashe in 1972

Earlier, Zverev booked his place in the final with a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) victory against Karen Khachanov to move a step closer to a ‌second Grand Slam title.

Shelton said: "First, 'Foe' is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament.

"I know what my goal is, what my job is. I'm going for it here. Let's do this for the USA!

"One more thing. It's a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go to all the families who were impacted by 9/11."

US Open: Draw, schedule, results from the final Grand Slam tournament of 2026 at Flushing Meadows in New York

US Open Tennis: News, draw, schedule, results and updates from Flushing Meadows in New York

US Open 2026: Order of Play and match schedule for Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and more

US Open LIVE! Scores, updates, news, commentary, results from New York with Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe all in action

US Open: Will it be a 'three-peat' for Aryna Sabalenka or a maiden title in New York for new No 1 Elena Rybakina?

US Open: Sky Sports agrees three-year extension to show the US Open until end of 2030

Tiafoe ⁠powered ahead 5-4 ⁠when Shelton produced a double fault, before raising the ‌roof with a hold to bag the first set.

Tiafoe ‌continued to target his opponent's backhand in the second set but serving with new balls at 3-3, Shelton started with a 125 mph serve - Tiafoe got his racket up almost in self-defence and ended up getting knocked backward to the court - and followed it with serves clocked at 144, 139 and 140, as he dialled up the intensity to draw ⁠level.

He then broke in the ​fifth game of the third ​set to take a commanding ​lead in the match.

With his booming ⁠left-handed serve and his defence proving impenetrable in the high-octane fourth set, ⁠eighth seed Shelton heaped ​the pressure on late to wrap up an emotional win.

The 23-year-old finished with 47 winners, including 20 aces, to book his place in the title match.

Ben Shelton - 149Ben Shelton - 148Ben Shelton - 147Ben Shelton - 147Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard - 145Thiago Tirante - 145Andy Roddick holds the all-time record at the US Open in 2002 at 152mphThe record for the most powerful serve in history is held by Sam Groth with 163.6 mph in a Challenger event

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The French Open champion had been pushed to five sets in ​each of his opening two rounds but has now won four straight matches without dropping a set, as he reached ​his third consecutive major final.

The victory sent him to his second title decider at Flushing Meadows, after finishing runner-up in 2020 to Dominic ​Thiem.

"After the second round at 3am, me and my team were in the dressing room actually laughing at how bad I was playing. ​That sense of humour helped me," Zverev said ⁠on court.

"I have improved a little ⁠bit, otherwise I wouldn't be in the US Open final."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The German had played all his previous matches during the night sessions, existing in a perpetual loop of darkness and midnight finishes.

The 29-year-old has capitalised on the absence of Jannik Sinner and defeats for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as a kind draw, to reach a third consecutive Grand Slam final.

"I really started off the tournament, and I ​was like, 'Well, this is pointless because I'm not going to do anything here,' and here I am sitting and preparing for a Sunday final," Zverev ​told reporters.

A solitary break was all Zverev needed to pinch a tight first set from his opponent and when he broke again at start of the second, a routine afternoon looked on the cards.

However, a double fault allowed Khachanov back on serve and instead Zverev became embroiled in a tie-break, at one point trailing 5-3 and only winning it after a lung-busting 35-shot rally.

The third set went the same way and Khachanov had set points at 6-4, but two wayward forehands and a Zverev ace gave him match point which he took at the first attempt.

Rather than fearing a partisan crowd on Sunday, Zverev said he was looking forward to it.

"I think it's going to be a fantastic ​feeling playing, you know, a final in a sold-out Arthur Ashe ​and not in an empty one," he said. "For me, a loud and energetic crowd is always great, as long as ‌they're fair."

Sky Sports Tennis' Martina Navratilova:

"What a year Zverev has had at the majors. It's been outstanding stuff.

"Okay, Sinner lost early at the French Open and Alcaraz didn't play, but there are no asterisks, he still had to get through even as a favourite.

"And that has given the confidence to play better tennis after that. I think he played better at Wimbledon than he did at Roland Garros, and now he started off badly here by his own admission, but he hasn't lost a set the last four matches.

"He's cooking now."

The US Open is live on Sky Sports from August 30. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App. You can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports.