Ben Shelton is one win away from a US Open title after beating Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 17 minutes to reach his first Grand Slam singles final.
The victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows came after Shelton had lost his previous two major semi-finals, making this a breakthrough moment as much as a semifinal result. It also sets up a final against Alexander Zverev, who will now stand between Shelton and the biggest title of his career.
A breakthrough with real historical weight
Shelton's win carried significance beyond the matchup itself. He became the first black American male player to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and the first black male player to reach a Grand Slam singles final since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the 2008 Australian Open. He is also the first American man to reach a Grand Slam final since Taylor Fritz two years ago.
That matters because American men's tennis has had only brief flashes at this level. Since Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open title, an American man has reached a Grand Slam final only six times. Shelton now joins that group, and he does it with the chance to end a 23-year wait for a men's US Open champion from the USA.
How Shelton got there
The win over Tiafoe was tense, physical and familiar. Shelton said afterward that playing Tiafoe is special because of their relationship and because the match took place on one of their favorite stages. He also asked the crowd to bring energy for Sunday and said he would leave everything on the court in pursuit of the title.
He also tied the moment to his family, saying his parents sacrificed a lot for him to be in this position and dedicating the run to his grandmother, who he said was the reason his father was able to play tennis.
What comes next against Zverev
The final will not be simple. Shelton has lost all five previous meetings with Alexander Zverev, so the challenge is obvious even with the momentum of a first major final behind him. Still, Shelton has already changed the tone of his tournament and now has a chance to finish it with a statement win for himself and for American men's tennis.
For Shelton, the path from a tough semifinal history to a first Grand Slam final is already a major step. On Sunday, he gets the chance to make it even bigger.
