Ben Shelton has reached the U.S. Open men's singles final, becoming the first Black American man to do so since Arthur Ashe in 1972. The 23-year-old secured his place in the championship match by defeating fellow American Frances Tiafoe, a player he considers a "big brother," in a hard-fought semifinal on Friday.
Shelton won the semifinal match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. His performance marks a significant milestone, as he is also the first Black American man to reach a Grand Slam singles final since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996. Washington lost that final to Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands.
The young American's journey to the final has been marked by memorable victories, including his upset over Carlos Alcaraz, the defending U.S. Open champion and a seven-time Grand Slam winner. Shelton defeated Alcaraz in a five-set quarterfinal thriller that concluded at 3:33 a.m. Wednesday, setting a record for the latest finish in the tournament's history. He won that match in a decisive fifth-set tiebreaker.
Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in the U.S. Open final on Sunday. His historic run has generated significant excitement and a sense of renewed belief for American tennis fans, drawing parallels to Ashe's legacy in the sport.