Ben Shelton just blasted his way into his first ever grand slam final, taking down Frances Tiafoe in a four-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium Friday night. This wasn’t just any win, either. Shelton’s victory means he now gets a shot at ending a 23-year drought for American men in grand slam titles, plus he’s the first Black American man to reach the US Open final since the legendary Arthur Ashe himself back in 1972. Talk about making history!
Shelton Fights Back After Tiafoe’s Early Jolt
The anticipation for this semifinal was off the charts, man, as high as any non-final in recent memory, and these two top Americans delivered. Tiafoe, the No. 11 seed, came out absolutely firing, looking super sharp early on. He picked up the first break of the match in the ninth game of the first set and then slammed the door shut with a hold at love to take the opener 6-4. Shelton, the No. 8 seed, looked a bit rattled, making 14 unforced errors in that first set. It was a message sent loud and clear from Tiafoe, but Shelton? He received it, and he wasn’t having it.
After that first set wake-up call, Shelton composed himself and cranked it up, finding that insane level he showed when he took down No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. He started leaning into his massive serve and heavy groundstrokes, putting serious pressure on Tiafoe. You could see Tiafoe’s forehand start to break down under the assault, and his first serve started giving him trouble, too. Shelton became the aggressor, just stepping in and taking control. He absolutely owned the second and third sets, winning both 6-3. He broke Tiafoe four times across those sets, only getting broken once himself. That balance between aggression and control? It was perfect, capped off by a serve that initially screamed 158 mph on the stadium gun, and even though it was a misread, 144 mph is still a cannon, dude! Shelton closed it out, taking the fourth set 7-5.
Maturity on Full Display
You could tell something was different with Shelton this year. He talked after the match about his maturity, and it’s been so obvious in his play these last two matches. He’s only 23, but he’s got that veteran focus. “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. I’m 100% committed to those goals.” He even mentioned how wild it is playing in front of all these celebs and athletes, like Jalen Brunson. Keeping your head down and focusing for over three hours with all that going on? That’s next level.
Now, Shelton faces Alexander Zverev on Sunday for the US Open title. The stakes could not be higher. He’s got a chance to do something no American man has done in 23 years, and to become the first Black American man since Arthur Ashe to win the US Open final. This isn’t just a final, it’s a date with destiny!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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