Ben Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in the US Open semifinals on Thursday, advancing to his first Grand Slam final at age 23. The left-handed American will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday's championship match after the German beat Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the other semifinal.
The victory marks a breakthrough moment for Shelton, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 5 in November 2025 and currently sits at No. 9 in the world. He has won seven ATP singles titles and earned over $15 million in prize money during his professional career, which began in 2022 after leaving the University of Florida.
Shelton's path to the final represents his best Grand Slam performance to date. His previous best major result was a semifinal appearance at the 2025 Australian Open, where he also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon that same year. The US Open final will be his second appearance in a Grand Slam championship match.
The all-American semifinal between Shelton and Tiafoe guaranteed that at least one American man would reach the US Open final. Shelton, who stands 6-foot-4 and plays left-handed with a two-handed backhand, has been coached by his father Bryan Shelton throughout his professional career.
Born in Atlanta and now residing in Orlando, Florida, Shelton turned professional in 2022 after a successful college career at Florida. His career record in singles stands at 144-90, a 61.5% winning percentage that has helped establish him as one of the rising stars in American tennis.
Zverev advanced to the final by defeating Khachanov in straight sets in the other semifinal match. The German will be seeking his first Grand Slam title when he faces Shelton on Sunday, setting up a final between two players still chasing their first major championship.
Shelton's semifinal victory continues a strong 2026 season that has seen him maintain his position in the top 10 of the world rankings. His current ranking of No. 9 as of August 31, 2026, represents a slight drop from his career-high position reached last November, but he remains one of the most promising young players in men's tennis.
The final will take place on Sunday, with Shelton looking to become the first American man to win the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. His journey to the final has captured attention as American tennis looks for its next Grand Slam champion in the men's game.
