Ben Shelton Defeats Tiafoe to Set Up US Open Final Against Zverev

The 2026 US Open men's singles tournament began with high expectations for top seeds and rising American stars. Alexander Zverev entered as the number one seed, fresh from a Grand Slam win at Roland-Garros earlier in the season.

American hopes were pinned on players like Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton. Both had shown strong form in earlier rounds, with Tiafoe overcoming tough opposition and Shelton making headlines for his aggressive play and powerful serving.

On September 10, Zverev delivered a commanding quarterfinal performance, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets to secure his place in the semifinals, marking his fourth major semifinal appearance of the year, according to The Hindu.

That same night, Ben Shelton shocked the tennis world by beating defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller that ended at 3:33 a.m., as reported by Forbes. The grueling match showcased Shelton's resilience and marked his breakthrough at the Grand Slam level.

Frances Tiafoe also advanced to the semifinals after a comeback victory over Alex Michelsen, setting up an all-American clash against Shelton. Their semifinal guaranteed that an American would reach the US Open men's final for the first time in years.

On September 11, Zverev continued his dominant run by defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the semifinals. This win put Zverev into his third Grand Slam final of the year, maintaining his status as the tournament favorite, as detailed by Sky Sports.

The following day, Ben Shelton faced Frances Tiafoe in a highly anticipated semifinal. After dropping the first set, Shelton roared back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5, making him the first American man to reach a US Open final since Andy Roddick, according to Sky Sports.

Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev are set to meet in the 2026 US Open men's singles final. Shelton's victory over Tiafoe has electrified American tennis fans, as he aims to become the first US men's Grand Slam champion in more than two decades.

Zverev enters the final as the top seed and favorite, seeking his second major title of the year and his first US Open crown. The final promises to be a compelling matchup between an in-form veteran and an emerging American star.

All eyes are on the US Open final, where Ben Shelton will try to break a 23-year American drought in men's Grand Slam singles. Zverev, with his experience and recent major win, will be a tough opponent. The outcome could reshape the narrative of men's tennis for both the US and Germany.