Ben Shelton completes comeback against Tiafoe to reach first Grand Slam final at the US Open

Saturday, 12 September 2026 at 05:33

Ben Shelton booked his place in the US Open final after overcoming Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an all-American semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The eighth seed had to recover from losing the opening set, but gradually turned the match around as his serve became a greater factor and he began to dictate more of the baseline exchanges.

Tiafoe remained within touching distance throughout the second half of the match, particularly in a tense fourth set that stayed on serve until its closing stages. However, Shelton continued to find the bigger shots when he needed them, eventually breaking in the final game to complete the comeback and reach the first Grand Slam final of his career. He finished with 18 aces compared with just one from Tiafoe, underlining the importance of his serve in the victory.

Tiafoe makes the stronger start

The opening set was closely contested from the start, with both Americans looking comfortable on serve and neither able to create a clear separation. Shelton's first serve was already proving difficult to handle, particularly when he could land it consistently, while Tiafoe looked more dangerous when he could extend rallies and bring more variety into the exchanges.

Tiafoe gradually began to make Shelton work harder behind his second serve, while the 28-year-old also looked comfortable moving forward and changing the rhythm of points. Shelton had the greater power, but Tiafoe was doing enough to prevent his opponent from consistently turning that power into quick points.

The breakthrough finally came late in the set. After a closely fought opening stretch in which neither player could establish a lead, Tiafoe found the opening he needed and capitalized when the pressure finally told on Shelton. He protected the advantage and closed out the set 6-4, giving himself the early lead in a match that had so far been decided by fine margins.

First set to Tiafoe! He takes it 6-4. pic.twitter.com/2Qfs6BsDxS
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

Shelton responds and changes the momentum

Shelton immediately looked to erase the deficit at the start of the second set. The 23-year-old held his opening service game before putting pressure on Tiafoe's serve, moving 2-0 ahead and forcing the No. 12 seed to respond.

Tiafoe did exactly that. He broke straight back to level at 2-2, preventing Shelton from building an early cushion and restoring the balance of the set. Both players then settled into their service games, with Shelton's first delivery once again becoming an increasingly important weapon as he looked to keep points short.

The eighth seed eventually found another opening at 5-3. Having created the separation he needed, Shelton served for the set and remained composed, closing it out 6-3 to level the semifinal. The turnaround was not only reflected in the scoreline: Shelton was beginning to dictate more frequently with his first shot, while Tiafoe was being forced to defend more often.

Shelton takes control in the third

Tiafoe opened the third set with a hold to stop Shelton's run of three consecutive games, but the American No. 1 continued to look increasingly comfortable in the match. The rallies remained competitive, yet Shelton's ability to get free points from his serve gave him more freedom to attack when rallies did develop.

Tiafoe saved two break points in the sixth game to keep the set level at 2-2, showing the resilience that had already carried him through a dramatic five-set quarterfinal against Alex Michelsen. Shelton could not convert those opportunities, and the set remained finely balanced as both players protected their serves.

The breakthrough finally came at 4-2. Tiafoe saved three break points but handed Shelton another opportunity with a costly error at the net, before another mistake in a lengthy exchange allowed the 23-year-old to finally break. Shelton then consolidated the advantage, holding to move 5-3 and putting himself within one game of taking the set.

Shelton closed out the third 6-3, completing another three-game run after Tiafoe had briefly looked capable of keeping the set level. The American No. 1 was now one set away from his first Grand Slam final, with his serve increasingly separating the two players.

15 minutes and 4 set points later, Ben Shelton takes the third set 6-3!

He's one set away from the final. pic.twitter.com/XdZoqtX4sA
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026

Tiafoe pushes Shelton to the finish

Tiafoe refused to let the semifinal slip away and immediately created pressure at the start of the fourth set. Shelton faced three break points in his opening service game but held firm, producing the kind of serving that had become central to his comeback. It was a crucial hold, allowing him to move ahead rather than immediately having to chase the set.

Both players then settled into the set, with Shelton moving 2-1 ahead before Tiafoe held a difficult game at 2-2. Shelton pushed him to deuce, but the No. 12 seed stayed composed and used well-placed body serves to escape the pressure. The Cincinnati finalist then moved 4-3 ahead with a hold to love, keeping himself within touching distance of forcing a deciding set.

The tension increased as the finish line approached. Tiafoe held again to make it 5-5, while Shelton responded with a comfortable hold to move within one game of the final at 6-5. Tiafoe now had to serve simply to stay alive and force a tiebreak.

Instead, Shelton found his final opening. He applied pressure at the most important moment, broke Tiafoe and closed out the fourth set 7-5 to complete the comeback. Tiafoe double-faulted on match point, bringing an end to a semifinal that had remained fiercely competitive deep into the fourth set.

Shelton reaches his first Grand Slam final

The victory marks the biggest result of Shelton's career. The 23-year-old had already produced the best win of his career in the quarterfinals by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set battle that finished at 3:33 a.m., and he now follows that performance by recovering from a set down against Tiafoe to reach his first major final.

It also guarantees that an American man will contest the US Open final, keeping alive the country's hopes of ending a men's singles Grand Slam title drought that dates back to Andy Roddick's 2003 triumph. Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final after the German defeated Karen Khachanov in straight sets earlier in the day.

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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