Ben Shelton overcame Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first grand slam final at the US Open, leaving him one victory from becoming the first American man to win a major since Andy Roddick in 2003.
Key facts
- Ben Shelton, 23, beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the US Open semi-final.
- It is Shelton's first career grand slam final.
- He is the first black US men's finalist since Arthur Ashe.
- Shelton will face top seed Alexander Zverev for the title.
- A win would end a 23-year drought since Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open triumph.
Ben Shelton reached his first career grand slam final on Friday night at the US Open, completing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 comeback over fellow American Frances Tiafoe in a semi-final played beneath the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to the Guardian.
The 23-year-old from Atlanta dropped the opening set but recovered to take the next three, sealing a place in the final and moving one win from a milestone that has eluded American men for more than two decades.
A victory in the final would make Shelton the first man from the United States to win one of the sport’s four major tournaments since Andy Roddick triumphed at the US Open in 2003, the Guardian reported.
For 23 years, the Guardian noted, a succession of American players tried and fell short. Andy Roddick tried again, Andre Agassi made one final run, and James Blake, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, John Isner, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz all carried American hopes deep into major tournaments only to run into the sport’s European dominance.
Shelton’s run also carries historic significance beyond nationality: according to the Guardian, he is the first black US men’s finalist since Arthur Ashe.
Standing between Shelton and the title is top seed Alexander Zverev, whom the American will face in the final.
Why it matters
American men have not won a grand slam singles title in 23 years, since Andy Roddick's 2003 US Open win. Shelton's breakthrough offers the sport's biggest home crowd a genuine chance to end that wait, and his run as the first black US men's finalist since Arthur Ashe adds further historic weight.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of Shelton's win over Tiafoe?
Ben Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in the US Open semi-final, according to the Guardian.
Who will Shelton face in the US Open final?
Shelton will face top seed Alexander Zverev for the title.
When did an American man last win a grand slam?
According to the Guardian, the last American man to win one of the sport's four major tournaments was Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2003, a 23-year drought.