Ben Shelton is through to his first Grand Slam final. On Friday night, September 11, the American defeated Frances Tiafoe 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 7–5 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. He will face Alexander Zverev for the US Open title on Sunday, September 13.
Shelton's serve underpinned the comeback: he struck 20 aces and landed 75% of his first serves. He finished with 47 winners to Tiafoe's 27 and secured the decisive break in the final game, as his compatriot served to take the fourth set into a tiebreak.
After advancing, Shelton emphasized his improved concentration. Speaking to the tournament's official coverage, he described a more methodical approach to the semifinal and an immediate focus on the final. He also identified his return, consistency from the baseline and construction of service games as areas behind his development.
In the other half of the draw, Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov 6–3, 7–6(7), 7–6(6). The top-seeded German reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final. This season's Roland Garros champion will play his second career final in New York, where he finished runner-up to Dominic Thiem in 2020.
The straight-sets win required two tiebreak recoveries. Zverev trailed Khachanov 3–5 in the second-set breaker and 2–5 in the third. In the last set, he saved two set points from 4–6 and won the final four points of the match.
The final will produce a first-time US Open champion. Zverev has won all five previous meetings with Shelton, but this will be their first encounter at a Grand Slam. For the American, the opportunity also carries national significance: a chance to end the wait for a men's singles major title that stretches back to Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open.
Sources: US Open reports on Shelton–Tiafoe and Zverev–Khachanov and the semifinal roundup, September 11, 2026; feature on Shelton's development, September 12, 2026. Videos: official highlights from both semifinals.