(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) Shelton advances to US Open 2026 men’s final for Zverev showdown | Tennis | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/12/ben-shelton-us-open-final-2026-alexander-zverev-tennis)                                             (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/sports/2026/9/12/ben-shelton-us-open-final-2026-alexander-zverev-tennis)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AFP__20260912__C83K8WR__v1__HighRes__TennisUsaOpen-1789194021_eab7d3-1789194419.jpg?resize=1200%2C630&quality=80)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AFP__20260912__C83K8WR__v1__HighRes__TennisUsaOpen-1789194021.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.c7afea12.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (../../../../static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (ben-shelton-us-open-final-2026-alexander-zverev-tennis@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/) Sport |(https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/tennis/) Tennis   Shelton advances to US Open 2026 men’s final for Zverev showdown Shelton will now have the chance to become to become the first American man to win a Grand Slam title since 2003.   Listen   Listen (4 mins)       Save       Share ‘I’m going for it’ – Shelton advances to US Open final for Zverev showdown on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fcefblj) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%98I%E2%80%99m%20going%20for%20it%E2%80%99%20%E2%80%93%20Shelton%20advances%20to%20US%20Open%20final%20for%20Zverev%20showdown&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fcefblj) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fcefblj) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/cefblj)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (USA's Ben Shelton reacts during the men's singles semi-final tennis match against USA's Frances Tiafoe on day thirteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 11, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP))   Ben Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in his first Grand Slam final on Sunday at the US Open [Charly Triballeau/AFP]   By  Reuters   Published On 12 Sep 2026 12 Sep 2026    Ben Shelton defeated compatriot Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an electric US Open semifinal on Friday to secure a title clash with Alexander Zverev and move closer to ending a 23-year American wait ⁠for a men’s singles Grand Slam champion. Zverev booked his place in Sunday’s final by fighting past unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) earlier in the day to close in on a second major title. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/11/razaullahs-six-hitting-debut-caps-pakistans-fightback-against-england) Razaullah’s six-hitting debut caps Pakistan’s fightback against England  list 2 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/11/fenerbahce-coach-kartals-resignation-refused-by-president-as-bottles-thrown-in-roma-champions-league-tie) Fenerbahce coach Kartal’s resignation refused as bottle thrown in Roma tie  list 3 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/11/real-madrids-mbappe-ai-dictator-memes-show-lack-of-political-awareness) Real Madrid’s Mbappe: AI dictator memes show lack of political awareness   end of list  Victory sent the German top seed into his second final in New York after his runner-up finish ⁠in 2020 to Dominic Thiem. Shelton, the big-hitting 23-year-old who (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/9/ben-shelton-shocks-carlos-alcaraz-in-five-sets-to-win-us-open-quarterfinal) took down defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, now stands one victory away from becoming the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick hoisted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2003.     With the semifinal lineup having already ensured a Black American man would reach the final, Shelton’s win made him the first to do so in New York since Arthur Ashe in 1972, and at any of the majors since MaliVai Washington at Wimbledon in 1996. (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/6/7/alexander-zverev-wins-french-open-to-claim-first-grand-slam-title) French Open ‌winner Zverev was pushed to five sets in each of his opening two rounds, but has now won four straight matches without dropping a set to charge into his third consecutive major final and stand in Shelton’s path. “I’m going for it,” Shelton said. “I’m going to leave it all on the court. I hope you guys come and back me; let’s do this for the US. “It’s a lot of emotion. My dad, my mum have sacrificed a lot for me to be in this position today. My dad lost his mom earlier this year, and she’s the reason he was able to play tennis. Advertisement    “Without her, there’s no Ben Shelton standing here today. This one is for her.” (Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 11, 2026 Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates winning his semi final match against Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. REUTERS/Mike Segar)  Ben Shelton celebrates winning his all-American semifinal match against Frances Tiafoe [Mike Segar/Reuters]  Poignant start to evening On a poignant evening ⁠that began with commemorations marking the (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/9/11/us-holds-memorials-for-the-9-11-attacks-25-years) 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks , Tiafoe powered ahead 5-4 when Shelton ⁠produced a double fault, before raising the roof on the main show court with a hold to bag the first set. “It’s a difficult day to be out here playing,” Shelton said. “My thoughts and prayers are going out to all the families who are impacted by 9/11. This is one of the greatest cities in the world and one of the biggest tragedies. ⁠But yeah, thoughts and prayers to everyone involved and affected.” Tiafoe continued to target his opponent’s relatively weaker backhand in the second set, but Shelton dialled up the intensity to draw level and broke in the fifth game of ⁠the third set to take a commanding lead. With his booming left-handed serve and his defence proving ⁠impenetrable in the high-octane fourth set, eighth seed Shelton heaped the pressure on late and moved into his maiden major final after a double fault by Tiafoe. (Tennis - U.S. Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 11, 2026 Ben Shelton of the U.S. embraces Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. after winning his semi final match REUTERS/Mike Segar)  Ben Shelton (left) embraces Frances Tiafoe after their semifinal clash [Mike Segar/Reuters]  “Frances, he’s like a big brother to me,” Shelton added. “Every time we get to take this court together, Arthur Ashe Stadium, and play each other is super special. But this is where we want to be at the ‌tail end … this is our favourite tournament, our favourite court in the world. “To be able to light it up in front of you guys is the best feeling there is.” Top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend earlier secured a team career Grand Slam with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory over American ‌wildcards ‌Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery in the women’s doubles final. The action will resume on Saturday when defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus faces incoming world No 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/11/sabalenka-rybakina-us-open-2026-womens-singles-final-time-form-head-to-head) women’s singles final .            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network