Ben Shelton is 23 years old, and that matters because the No 8 seed has now taken the biggest step of his career. On Friday night at the US Open, Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first career grand slam final.
The result also carries wider significance. Shelton has become the first Black US men’s finalist since Ashe and is now one win away from ending a 23-year wait for a man from the United States to win one of tennis’s four major tournaments, a run that stretches back to Andy Roddick in 2003.
Shelton finds another level when it matters
What stood out against the 11th-seeded Tiafoe was not just the comeback, but the way Shelton kept building into the match. He landed 75% of his first deliveries, hit 20 aces and turned the contest around after dropping the opening set.
There was also a long, testing 15-minute, 20-point service game that underlined both the pressure of the occasion and Shelton’s ability to stay composed. That is the sort of moment that can define a young player’s progress, especially in a semifinal with so much at stake.
After the match, Shelton said: “It’s amazing to be in this position.” He added: “Obviously we’re not done here. The job is not finished. Super excited to get another opportunity to go out there and show my best on Sunday.”
Tiafoe sees a more complete player
Frances Tiafoe’s reaction was telling as well. He said Shelton’s game is “starting to get more polished” and that “instead of just being a shot maker, he’s actually staying tough in the rallies.”
That is a strong marker of where Shelton is now. The power has always been obvious, but this run shows a player adding patience, resilience and a better feel for the bigger moments. That combination is often what separates a dangerous contender from a genuine finalist.
Sunday brings the next step
Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s US Open final. For a 23-year-old playing in his first major final, the challenge is clear, but so is the opportunity.
He has already made history by reaching this stage. Now the question is whether he can finish the job and complete one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent US men’s tennis history.
