New York: Ben Shelton defeats Frances Tiafoe to reach U.S. Open final
Shelton Advances in All-American Matchup
Ben Shelton secured a victory over Frances Tiafoe in an all-American semifinal match, advancing to his first Grand Slam final. Shelton won the match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 on Friday. This win sets him up to face Alexander Zverev for the U.S. Open title on Sunday.
Shelton, who is 23 years old, displayed significant energy throughout the match, following a quarterfinal win against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. That previous match concluded at 3:33 a.m. on Wednesday, marking the latest finish ever at the U.S. Open. Shelton’s advancement means a Black American man will feature in the finals for the first time since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
The match between Shelton and Tiafoe was a significant moment, being the first time two Black American men played in the U.S. Open semifinals. Martin Blackman, who serves as the general manager of player development at the USTA, reflected on the historical significance of the match. He noted that such an event could inspire future generations of tennis players, particularly young Black boys and their families.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
The semifinal contest saw a strong start from Tiafoe, who played cleaner tennis in the first set. He committed only three unforced errors compared to Shelton’s 14. Tiafoe secured a break at 4-4 in the first set due to a double-fault from Shelton, ultimately winning the set.
However, Shelton’s performance shifted after the first set. He began serving with increased power, ultimately finishing the match with 20 aces. A pivotal moment occurred in the second set when Shelton, serving with new balls at 3-all, delivered a 125 mph serve, followed by serves clocked at 144, 139, and 140 mph. The latter two were aces, giving him a lead he maintained for the remainder of the set.
The momentum continued to swing in Shelton’s favor during the third set. A crucial game, lasting 15 minutes and involving 20 points, saw Tiafoe desperately trying to hold serve. The game concluded when Tiafoe hit a forehand into the net, allowing Shelton to clinch the set and move closer to victory. The very next game, the first of the fourth set, went to deuce three times, with Shelton winning that as well, further solidifying his lead.
Tiafoe had also experienced a marathon quarterfinal match, where he came back from two sets down and a 3-0 deficit in the fifth set to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen. Despite Tiafoe receiving slightly more cheers early in the semifinal, the crowd was vocal in support of both players as the match progressed. Shelton ultimately sealed his victory when Tiafoe double-faulted on his final serve of the night.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Shelton will now face Alexander Zverev, the No. 1 seed, in the U.S. Open final. Zverev secured his spot in the final by defeating Karen Khachanov with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6) in the first semifinal. Zverev, who won the French Open this year, has been in strong form in Grand Slam matches, holding a record of 24-2 this season.
The upcoming final presents an opportunity for Shelton to become the first American men’s major winner since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open. Shelton expressed his determination, stating, “I’m going for it here, and I’m going to leave it all on the court.” Zverev, for his part, commented, “Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday.”
The semifinal match attracted a notable audience, including sports figures like Serena Williams and Jalen Brunson, as well as actors such as Salma Hayek, Ben Stiller, and Rami Malek. Shelton, in his post-match comments, referred to the 28-year-old Tiafoe as “like a big brother,” acknowledging their friendship forged on the tour and their shared history as Black men succeeding at the highest level of tennis.
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Source: cnn.com
