The 23-year-old American will face top seed Alexander Zverev in the US Open final, with a chance to become the first U.S. man since Andy Roddick in 2003 to win a Grand Slam singles title.
NEW YORK — Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final and now has an opportunity to end a 23-year wait for an American men’s singles major champion when he meets Alexander Zverev in the US Open final.
The eighth-seeded Shelton earned his place in the championship match by overcoming fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in Friday’s semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result also secured a historic milestone: Shelton became the first Black American man to reach a US Open men’s singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Shelton’s progress has come through a demanding run in New York. In the quarterfinals, he defeated defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set match that lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes. His semifinal victory over Tiafoe then sent him into a first major final at age 23. The US Open reported that Shelton had spent 18 hours and 58 minutes on court through the semifinals.
Standing between Shelton and the title is top-seeded German Alexander Zverev, who advanced by beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6). Zverev arrived in New York after the strongest Grand Slam season of his career so far, having won his first major at Roland Garros, reached the Wimbledon final and made the Australian Open semifinals.
History strongly favors Zverev in this matchup. He has won all five of his previous meetings with Shelton, and the US Open notes that after Shelton took the opening set in their first encounter, Zverev won the next 10 sets between them. The final therefore presents Shelton with both a title opportunity and a chance to overturn a difficult personal record against the tournament’s top seed.
Zverev will also be competing in his second US Open final. His previous appearance came in 2020, when he led Dominic Thiem by two sets and served for the championship before ultimately losing in five sets. This time, he enters the final as a Grand Slam champion and the No. 1 seed.
For American tennis, Shelton’s appearance carries significance beyond a single match. Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, doing so at the 2003 US Open. Shelton can become the first U.S. man since then to claim a major championship. He would also become the first Black American man to win the US Open since Ashe in 1968.
The semifinal between Shelton and Tiafoe was itself a notable moment for the sport. It marked the first US Open men’s singles semifinal featuring two Black American men, while guaranteeing that the tournament’s final would include a Black American player for the first time since Ashe’s 1972 run. CNN’s analysis placed the match in the broader context of efforts to expand access and representation in tennis, while emphasizing the significance of the progress represented by the two players reaching that stage together.
The final also brings together two players who have served particularly effectively throughout the tournament. According to the official US Open preview, Zverev had hit 87 aces entering the final, while Shelton had produced 71. Zverev had spent slightly more time on court overall, largely because he was pushed to five sets in each of his first two rounds before winning four straight matches without dropping a set.
The championship match is scheduled for Arthur Ashe Stadium, giving Shelton the opportunity to pursue a landmark victory in front of a home crowd. For Zverev, the occasion represents a chance to add a second Grand Slam title to a breakthrough 2026 season.
KEY FACTS:
● Ben Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his first Grand Slam final.
● Alexander Zverev beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(7), 7-6(6) and holds a 5-0 career record against Shelton.
● Shelton can become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph.
SOURCES:
● ESPN — Ben Shelton's shot at history comes Sunday in the US Open final ESPN report
● US Open — 2026 US Open: Alexander Zverev vs. Ben Shelton - Final Key Match Preview US Open match preview
● CNN — A showdown of Black American men represents progress, and opportunity, in tennis CNN analysis
● Reuters — Shelton advances to US Open final for Zverev showdown Reuters report
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