Ben Shelton absolutely ripped through American compatriot Frances Tiafoe today, clinching a four-set victory to storm into his very first Grand Slam final at the US Open! This kid means business, and he just proved it on the biggest stage.
Shelton’s Power Game Is UNREAL
This kid, only 23 years old, was an absolute beast on Arthur Ashe Stadium, blasting a ridiculous 20 aces on his way to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win. Think about that: twenty aces! He’s now set to face top-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany in Sunday’s championship match. This isn’t just a big win; this is *history* in the making. Both Shelton and Tiafoe were fighting to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time, but it was Shelton who got it done. Don’t forget, he already took out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. Now, he’s got a shot to be the first American man to grab a Grand Slam title since Andy Roddick did it all the way back in 2003 at, you guessed it, the US Open. Talk about pressure!
The Comeback Kid: How Shelton Turned It Around
It wasn’t a walk in the park, though. Tiafoe came out swinging, snagging the first set after Shelton uncharacteristically double-faulted at 5-4, giving Tiafoe the break. He then held to love to close it out. But Shelton wasn’t having any of that. He came flying out of the blocks in the second set, grabbing an early break for a 2-0 lead. Tiafoe clawed back to level at 2-2, but his serve started getting super erratic. Shelton pounced, got another break in the eighth game to go up 5-3, and then held serve to level the match at one set apiece. The momentum was all with him after that.
That 144 MPH Serve Sealed the Deal
Tiafoe tried to hang tough in the third, fighting off two break points early on. But Shelton, who hit one serve that was initially clocked at a mind-blowing 158mph (even if it was adjusted to 144mph, that’s still a missile!), broke in the fifth game to go 3-2 up. Tiafoe battled like crazy to stay alive in the ninth game, saving three break and set points. But Shelton just kept pushing. He earned a fourth break point, scorched a backhand return down the line on Tiafoe’s second serve, and converted it when Tiafoe netted a forehand. Shelton was up 2-1 in sets. The fourth set was tight, going with serve until the very last game, the 12th. Shelton dug deep and grabbed that crucial break to seal the victory. What a performance!
So, it’s Shelton vs. Zverev on Sunday. This kid has the power, the momentum, and a chance to do something truly special for American tennis. You know he’s going to leave it all out there. Get ready, folks, this is gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply