Ben Shelton made history by becoming the first Black American tennis player to reach the US Open Men’s final since Arthur Ashe in 1972. In a thrilling match, the 23-year-old rallied after losing the first set, winning against Frances Tiafoe with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 after 3 hours and 17 minutes. Shelton’s impressive serves led him to clinch a spot in the final against Alexander Zverev.
The match was held at the packed Arthur Ashe Arena, filled with celebrities like Spike Lee, Rami Malek, Kevin Hart, and Russell Wilson. Shelton admitted the celebrity presence was distracting, saying, “It’s not easy… to keep your head down and focus for over three hours.”
As he prepares for his first Grand Slam final, Shelton aims to end a 23-year wait for an American champion at the US Open, facing a challenging opponent in Zverev, who has previously won all five encounters with Shelton. Fans and stars alike are eagerly anticipating this historic final.
