First-time finalist Ben Shelton faces Zverev challenge in US Open

NEW YORK: American tennis star Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final after producing a remarkable comeback against compatriot Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling US Open semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 23-year-old Shelton recovered after dropping the opening set to defeat Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in a contest that lasted more than three hours. The victory completed an impressive turnaround and gave Shelton a place in his first major championship match.

Shelton’s powerful serve and growing composure proved decisive as the match progressed. After Tiafoe made the stronger start, Shelton gradually took control, finding greater consistency from the baseline and putting pressure on his fellow American.

The victory also keeps alive a remarkable opportunity for US men’s tennis. No American man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick captured the US Open in 2003. Shelton now stands one victory away from ending that 23-year wait.

The achievement is historic in another way. Shelton is the first Black American man to reach the US Open men’s singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 and the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996.

Shelton’s run has been particularly impressive after he eliminated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a dramatic five-set quarterfinal. That victory ended Alcaraz’s 18-match winning streak at the majors and sent Shelton into the final four with growing confidence.

Standing between Shelton and his first Grand Slam title will be Germany’s Alexander Zverev.

The top-seeded Zverev booked his place in the final by defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7-3), 7-6(8-6). It will be Zverev’s second US Open final and his third consecutive Grand Slam final after winning the French Open earlier this year.

The final will also present Shelton with a major personal challenge. He has lost all five of his previous meetings with Zverev, although the two have never faced each other at a Grand Slam.

With history within reach, Shelton will enter Sunday’s final carrying the hopes of American men’s tennis — and the chance to turn his breakthrough US Open run into a championship moment.